Dog Man

Originally published Feb 10, 2025

Directed by Animaniacs writer and producer Peter Hastings, DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man is based on the children’s book series by Dav Pilkey, which was in turn based on a comic from Captain Underpants. After a horrible accident, a skilled cop and a smart dog are merged together to create the “super cop,” Dog Man. His heated rivalry with feline supervillain Petey (Pete Davidson) is disrupted by the arrival of Lil’ Petey, a kitten clone and Petey’s innocent opposite who changes everything. 

The movie captures the spirit of a child’s comic come to life, which works to both its advantage and its detriment. In the latter instance, the plot suffers from pacing and tonal issues. It starts out relatively easy to follow, but it gradually becomes more muddled, culminating in a finale that drags on for longer than it should. The humor varied heavily, with occasional low-brow potty humor or predictable dog jokes that carry on longer than they should. Fortunately, the balance is paid with clever wordplay, cheeky visual gags and general absurdity. The animation is reminiscent of The Peanuts Movie, adapting the characters and environments into CG while still feeling like Pilkey’s illustrations. The voice cast, including Davidson, Hastings, Lil Rey Howery and Isla Fisher, exhibit a genuine enthusiasm in their deliveries, no matter how ridiculous some of the lines may be. Lil’ Petey is an adorable driving force and his relationships with Petey and Dog Man will make you laugh and warm your heart.

Overall, Dog Man is comparable to an old dog: it doesn’t have many new tricks to offer, but it still packs enough charm and heart to hold your attention.

Rating: 6.5/10