The first is one of my favorite movies-- as a pet owner, I think it's absolutely hilarious! Illumination will put out a new character trailer for The Secret Life of Pets 2 each month! Here's Max: The Secret Life Of Pets 2 - The Max Trailer https://youtu.be/pKLGUuJftl0 (via animatedviews.com & thesecretlifeofpets.com)
{The cat twins made me snort it is so funny...
I think that only Louis C.K. die-hard fans saw the original only because he was in it. Everyone else just wanted to see an entertaining movie. I think if anything, for the first few minutes in the sequel, some people might think that Max sounds different, but then get pulled into the story and forget about it.
Louis C.K. was fine in the first Pets movie, but it was hardly an iconic vocal performance and his voice isn't what I would call distinct. If anything, Kevin Hart was the MVP of the voice cast and if he was replaced, it would probably be more noticeable.
With the controversy surrounding C.K., I think it was a good idea to replace him. And Patton Oswalt is a good choice to take over the role.
"There are two wolves and they are always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. Which wolf wins? Whichever one you feed." - Casey Newton, Tomorrowland