Pets on a Train (Falcon Express) (2025) Review: A Runaway Train Full of Pampered Pets

This pets on a train review starts with a simple promise: a fast, silly animated heist that never slows down. Falcon Express, released in some markets as Pets on a Train, is a French family adventure from directors Benoît Daffis and Jean-Christian Tassy. It runs a tight 86 minutes and rarely wastes a minute of them.

Pets on a Train Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Pets on a Train plot centres on Falcon, a wily raccoon who looks after a community of stray animals a little like Robin Hood. He scavenges what he can and shares it with the hungry, and his big plan is a feast for everyone. To pull it off, he teams up with a badger named Hans to raid the buffet car of a high-speed train.

Then things go wrong. The train starts moving on its own, carrying only pets, and Falcon learns that Hans has a grudge and a very different agenda. A crash looks unavoidable, so Falcon needs help from a pampered crowd of passengers and an upright police dog named Rex.

The setup is familiar, a runaway-train thriller with fur, but it is easy to follow and quick to get going. The film reaches its main premise early, which suits younger viewers.

What Works in Pets on a Train

The pace is the biggest strength. As an animated action comedy, the film keeps its set pieces short and its jokes frequent, so it never drags. The train setting gives the directors a neat, confined playground of corridors, carriages and rooftops.

The odd-couple pairing is the other draw. Falcon is a smooth-talking thief, while Rex is a by-the-book officer, and their clashing instincts give the story a reliable engine. If you enjoy animation movie reviews with a buddy-comedy core, this fits the mould.

A few other highlights:

• A clear, kid-friendly goal with real ticking-clock tension

• Slapstick that suits the talking-animal cast

• A short runtime that respects young attention spans

Pets on a Train Cast and Performances

The Pets on a Train cast is made up of French voice actors, since the original title is Falcon Express. Damien Ferrette voices Falcon, bringing a cheeky confidence that makes the raccoon likeable even when he is stealing. Hervé Jolly plays Rex, the earnest police dog, and gives him a gruff, dependable edge.

Kaycie Chase voices Maguy, Frantz Confiac voices the scheming Hans, and Emmanuel Garijo covers Randy and Jimi. Nicolas Marié voices Rico. The performances are lively rather than subtle, which fits the material, and the supporting animals add colour without stealing focus.

If you watch a dubbed version, the voices may differ from the French originals. This review is based on the credited French cast.

Where Pets on a Train Stumbles

The story is a well-worn variation on a familiar theme. Viewers who know their runaway-train and heist movies will predict most of the beats, and the betrayal at the centre carries few real surprises. One audience reviewer on TMDB scored it 6 out of 10 for similar reasons.

The pampered pets can also feel like a loose crowd rather than fully drawn characters. Some of them exist mainly for a gag or a rescue moment. Adults may find the humour a touch broad, and the emotional notes stay on the surface.

Is Pets on a Train Worth Watching?

Yes, if you want a light, speedy family adventure and do not mind a predictable plot. It is not trying to reinvent the genre, but it delivers energy, charm and a satisfying odd-couple dynamic in under an hour and a half. Audiences on TMDB have given it a respectable 7.2 out of 10.

The film was released on 2 July 2025, and it earned roughly $12 million worldwide, a modest total that reflects its smaller, European footing. For a family movie night, it is an easy pick. For viewers after something sharper or more original, it may feel slight. You can find more like it in our action movie reviews, and see the film's Wikipedia-free listing details on IMDb for credits.

Who Will Enjoy Pets on a Train

• Families with younger children who like talking-animal comedies

• Fans of buddy-style heists and light action in animation

• Viewers who want a short, easy watch, like our family movie reviews picks