Given the shouty, ALL-CAPS aesthetic of the Dav Pilkey graphic novels on which this is based, it was a relief to discover that Dog Man paces itself in terms of action and antics, even allowing for quiet moments of gentle self-reflection here and there. Centering on a dutiful law-enforcement officer who is half dog and half man (though I’d put the percentages at 70-30 given the way he circles his pillow before settling down for the night), the movie has a self-aware streak that isn’t too self-impressed, as well as an amusing flair for the absurd. The animation, meanwhile, honors the scribbled-on-the-back-of-your-homework style of Pilkey’s drawings, while also deepening the world with rich color schemes and settings that are both painterly and poppy. Voiced by the likes of Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, and director Peter Hastings, who has come a long way since helming the family acid trip known as Country Bears.
(1/29/2025)
