Falcon’s Ultimate Christmas Mission
In Bay City, Falcon (voiced by Damien Ferrette) is a cheeky, thieving raccoon who spends his days running through the city streets, stealing food and snacks while outrunning both humans and other animals. When Falcon isn’t stealing food, he retreats to a private spot near the railway, where he shares his haul with other animals. Among his fellow animals, Falcon is a hero and a true leader. While the food he has stolen has always benefited animals in need of a meal, Falcon has a big next mission in mind- the ultimate Christmas meal steal. Rumour has it that all Falcon needs to do is secretly board a train, thanks to a mysterious connection named Hans (voiced by Frantz Confiac). Once aboard the train, Falcon will undertake Mission ‘Operation Christmas Feast’.
Falcon Walks Straight Into a Trap
While Falcon’s mission to board the train incognito is successful, his ultimate plan is about to be turned upside down, turning this into his most dangerous mission yet. The train is packed with cutting-edge technology, and Falcon must hack and alter various access panels following instructions from the mysterious Hans, who claims this will unlock the food carriages. But the train isn’t loaded with food. Instead, it’s filled with human passengers and numerous animals in cages being transported, including dogs, cats, fish, turtles, birds, ducks, and more. Falcon has walked straight into a trap.
A High-Stakes Runaway Train Adventure
Now, Falcon is trapped aboard the train, Hans forces all human passengers to exit, locks Falcon in with a collection of frightened animals whose lives are in grave danger and sets the train to accelerate at high speed. Can Falcon stop the runaway train with the help of a group of witty animal companions, and who exactly is Hans, the figure now controlling everything on board? One thing is sure: a fiery and explosive crash seems inevitable.
The Directors Behind Pets on a Train
Jean-Christian Tassy and Benoît Daffis both directed Pets on a Train. Tassy has previously worked on Calibre 9, an action-crime film from 2011, while this marks Daffis’s directorial debut. It’s also worth noting that Tassy co-wrote the movie as well.
Die Hard with Claws and Playful Pop Culture Nods
Funny enough, while the film aims for a much younger audience with its childish gags and often wacky one-liners, it also tries to stand tall as a fun action film for adults, giving clear nods to one of the greatest action films of all time, Die Hard (1988). For example, the film features a pair of characters named Johnson and Johnson; the villain goes by the name Hans, one of the primary fight sequences is set to Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and you even get an animal shouting “Yippee ki yay”- yes, it’s Die Hard with claws. Speaking of references, there’s also a clownfish character that looks like Nemo, and a small, sweet turtle with blue over its eyes that clearly nods to all things Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Falcon’s Heroic Heart Amid a Subtle Christmas Setting
The film’s opening is engaging, as is the introduction of Falcon’s character. At first, we assume Falcon is simply a thief, but his intentions are clearly heroic, as he focuses on helping others by providing food to those in need during Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, while the film’s storyline is Christmas-themed, its on-screen portrayal feels sparse. Characters frequently mention Christmas, but visually, it’s easy to forget. I often found myself thinking, “Oh, right, this is a Christmas film.” Aside from a couple of visual cues indicating the holiday season, its jolly presence is noticeably absent throughout.
Animation Shines, Voice Work Falters
The animation work here is pleasing and acceptable, carrying the same style and craft we’ve seen from the studio’s previous titles, including The Jungle Bunch: World Tour and Argonauts. The voice work, however, was where I found the most disappointment. The performances are a mixed bag, with voices that often feel forgettable or mismatched to the animal and its personality. But if you’re a younger audience, this is a minor issue, as the playful animated action sequences, such as watching a train smash into various objects and vehicles, or seeing animals attempt to work together through wacky gags and chaotic moments, will be more than enough to entertain. Not to mention the many (and I do mean many) social media references, which younger viewers are bound to find relatable and funny.
A Wacky, Action-Packed Ride for Younger Audiences
Pets on a Train (2025) will be available in Australian Cinemas from December 11th, thanks to Umbrella!
Published: 29th November 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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