'Dog Man' review: A wacky if ruff adaptation that can’t quite fetch the fun of the books
Based on the popular graphic novel series by Dav Pilkey and spun off from his "Captain Underpants" franchise, “Dog Man” gets the big-screen treatment in an adaptation that captures the spirit of the canine hero. However, whether it resonates fully may depend on how much you’re a fan of the books. As someone who is, I’d argue that the story lands much better on the page whereas the 90-minute movie, while fun at times, often feels more suited for a television or streaming format with bite-sized, 20-minute episodes.
As it stands, “Dog Man” has the feel of a “Saturday Night Live” sketch that’s been stretched into a feature-length production. While the much better “Captain Underpants” movie found a delightful balance, this one misses the mark, lacking the vibrancy and consistent laughs of the original source material.
Director Peter Hastings has assembled an impressive ensemble cast, including Lil Rel Howery, Pete Davidson, Isla Fisher, and the formidable Ricky Gervais voicing an evil robotic fish. While these voices give the film star power, the humor and energy that characterize the books are often absent. The story has plenty of dog-chasing-a-squirrel enthusiasm that will undoubtedly energize younger viewers, but parents might struggle to find much to laugh at—aside from the occasional winks to “Die Hard” and “Apocalypse Now.”
Visually, the film pops with a storybook-like quality, giving it a solid cinematic sheen. Still, it doesn't quite measure up to the charm of the recent DreamWorks animated film “The Wild Robot,” which had more visual richness. Nonetheless, the origin story—where a policeman’s body is stitched onto the head of a dog after a bomb explodes—offers occasional bursts of fun, especially as the film plays with animated conventions. Words like “Dun, Dun, Dunnn” manifest out of thin air in bold, comic-book style lettering and absurd buildings are whimsically described as “living spray factories.” It’s the kind of wacky premise that only animation could bring to life.
However, there's a lot happening here. In addition to the usual Dog Man antics, the film introduces a host of subplots. The primary antagonist, Petey the Cat (voiced by Davidson), resides in an evil lair adorned with massive “Petey’s Hideout” signs. He also has an adorable clone, Li’l Petey, created after Petey ordered a cloning machine online. There’s also one involving the chief of police (voiced hilariously by Howery) and his not-so-secret crush on a local TV reporter (Fisher), who, along with Dog Man, is trying to prevent Petey from breaking out of jail once again. As if that weren't enough, the film throws in a psychokinetic fish named Flippy (Gervais having a blast) and an army of buildings that come to life.
On the page, these chaotic moments flow seamlessly, allowing readers to take their time with the jokes and set their own rhythm. But in the film, most of that gets rushed, and some creative decisions feel forced. For instance, Dog Man’s brief moments of depression about his former life never feel fully developed and seem included merely to pad the runtime. Other aspects, such as the stereotypical shouting police chief, come off as attempts to drum up laughs by any means necessary—especially in the overstimulating third act, which leans heavily on fart and toilet humor.
While some voice performances miss the mark, the one actor who seems to understand the campy nature of Pilkey's source material is Gervais, who delivers his role with gusto. Davidson, on the other hand, seems content to coast through his lines without much enthusiasm. That said, there’s certainly a place in the animated world for a hero like Dog Man, and even though the film's broad strokes on themes like friendship, parenthood, and teamwork may not be revolutionary, they still offer something for young viewers. The book remains superior, but as most kids (and parents) will agree, we already knew that.
Grade: C+
DOG MAN is now playing in theaters.