Unleashed’: Comedy is cute but keeps characters on short lease

“Unleashed” has a cute premise: A relationship-phobic woman relies on her pets for emotional comfort, only for her cat and dog to run away — and magically return as human stud muffins to help her resolve her trust issues. There’s potential fun to be had here, and it shows up from time to time, but the film never quite escapes its shackles.

Emma (Kate Micucci) has recently moved to San Francisco after a painful breakup with her boyfriend (Josh Brener), who has made off with her heart — and her valuable app. To cope, she has adopted a golden retriever and a tuxedo cat, not knowing what the moon can do to certain animals.