Fixed (2025) Review - Raunchy Adult Animation avoids a complete critical neutering

From Cartoon Network classics like Dexter's Laboratory (1996 - 1998) and Samurai Jack (2001 - 2004, 2017) to the Hotel Transylvania films (2012 - 2018) as well as numerous other projects throughout the decades, Gendy Tartakovsky is something of animation royalty. Across his works spanning from comedy to action, Tartakovsky has always delivered stylised animation trademarked with abundant squash and stretch, strong silhouettes and emphasis on visuals above dialogue.

Fixed (2025) marks Tartakovsky's plus Sony's first film to be traditionally 2D animated, something typically reserved in North America for more independent films. Accompanying Tartakovsky on the screenplay is Jon Vitti, a writer likely best known for penning some of the most iconic episodes of The Simpsons (1989 - ) like Cape Feare, Mr. Plow and more. Seemingly, there was a lot going for this raunchy comedy but following the embarrassment that is David Zaslav's Warner Bros. Discovery management the film ended up being tossed around until Netflix stepped in. Then to make matters worse, reception to the film's trailer was largely negative; many fans found the film's emphasis on sex comedy off putting and a disappointment given how much comedy dominates adult animation. With all this stacked against the film, what we get is something that is more interesting for its backstory than actual content.

To start with the positives, the animation in Fixed has the hallmarks of Tartakovsky's animation style, characters hit the perfect blend of fluidity and weight giving them the freedom of broad emotion while retaining a solidity that gives appropriate believability to their movements. Sony Animation have received praise for their diversity in style across 3D animation so its great to see that translated back in to 2D which has been Gendy's dominant approach outside Hotel Transylvania. The best jokes here come from the timing and surrealism of the visual gags even if some may be grossed out by their raunch extremity, nothing too surprising for those familiar with online animation but a surprise for those still thinking Animation = Disney.

There's also a playfulness in all the voice performances that elevates the jokes that land. The leads such as Adam DeVine, Kathryn Hahn and Idris Elba all match their character designs and are aware of where to place emphasis to maximise comedic potential in the material. It goes hand in hand with the animation when so many celebrity voices can be just phoned in for a quick buck. As Tartakovsky has said in interviews the plot can often feel like its a take on the Judd Apatow comedy through the metaphor of dogs.

Unfortunately given the talent involved, I think the spoken comedy here is too reliant on the delivery and look than an actual inherent comedic quality. Many jokes and scenarios can feel like your typical raunchy mad libs that don't stick with you for long after. Punchlines can often just be what if [insert sexual joke from a more popular comedy] but if it was a dog. That's not to say the film is unsuccessful in getting laughs but rather I think what works can be best attributed to direction and improv rather than pure writing.

Unsurprisingly, I think Fixed is one of those films where your judgement is pre-determined. If you look at the poster and premise and conclude the film will be a hacky gross out cartoon then the film won't change that. However, if you think the film looks like an amusing hour and half that will get a suitable amount of laughs then it's worth a watch. The film isn't going to be regarded as up there with Tarkovsky or Sony's finest moments but is it fair to judge that as negative when the film isn't made for that purpose? I don't think so.

Give Fixed a watch if you have a soft spot for dumb raunchy comedy and a stomach for gross visuals. While it may not all land, I'm sure those interested will find at least a few gags that provide a laugh.

5/10