Dog Man
January 27th, 2025
MOVIE: DOG MAN
STARRING: PETE DAVIDSON, LIL REL HOWERY, ISLA FISHER, RICKY GERVAIS
DIRECTED BY: PETER HASTINGS
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG
RUN TIME: 89 MINUTES
Dog Man—the series of books by Dav Pilkey—has been a massive hit for kids aged 1 to 40. Yes, I say 40 because I often wonder who enjoys Dog Man more: my son, or myself? One thing is clear, though: these stories strike a perfect balance between humor and life lessons. The illustrations, which resemble comic books, tell the story of a police officer and his trusty police dog who have a mishap with a bomb, resulting in the absurd but charming character of Dog Man—half man, half dog. The books have long been a favorite, so it’s no surprise that they’ve been adapted into animated movies. But does it successfully make the leap from page to screen? The answer is a resounding yes. The film is packed with laughs, capturing the childish humor and the genuine spirit that makes the books so beloved. Dog Man is a good boy and a treat for the whole family.
An interesting aspect of the title character is that he’s a mostly silent star. Sure, you get a few barks, slurps, and tail wags, but Dog Man mainly serves as a vehicle for the characters around him. You’ve got Chief (voiced by Lil Rel Howery), the dependable head of the police department, and reporter Sarah Hatoff (voiced by Isla Fisher), who’s always on the scene. Meanwhile, Dog Man chases down the villainous Petey the Cat (voiced by Pete Davidson). The dynamic feels a bit like a Batman vs. Joker story, where the bad guy always seems to get caught. But things take a turn when Petey clones himself, unintentionally creating a new ally for Dog Man—Li’l Petey (Lucas Hopkins Calderon). The plot then takes an even wilder turn with Flippy (voiced by Ricky Gervais), a super-kinetic fish who hatches his evil plan. Dog Man teams up with an unexpected group of characters to save the day, making for a surprising adventure.
Overall, Dog Man is a solid animated film. The digital animation, which has a stop-motion feel, is complemented by edgy colors that recall the recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, while still keeping the vibrant, playful style of the books. Writer/director Peter Hastings manages to find a nice balance, with the film breezing through its 89-minute runtime. There are plenty of silly jokes (like how every Dog Man book is just pictures of squirrels), and the climactic ending sets the stage for future kaiju-style stories. It’s not perfect—fans of the books will probably enjoy it a little more than newcomers—but Dog Man feels fresh and promises even bigger things to come.
The real test, though, was whether my 6-year-old would enjoy it. While I have the habit of giving each character a unique voice when I read aloud, making the book experience a little more fun, my son left the movie theater with a big smile on his face. And that’s the magic of Dog Man—the stories are goofy and full of childish humor, like the best of Looney Tunes, The Three Stooges, or Harold Lloyd films. They remind us to let go and just enjoy the adventure. Dog Man is top cop and top dog, more than worthy of a good belly rub.
3 STARS
DOG MAN IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON FRIDAY JANUARY 31ST, 2025
Written by: Leo Brady
