This movie is the definition of hyper. It's like a pet when the owner comes home with some special treat around the pet's conditioned mealtime. It's like a two-year-old after a sugary escapade. It's one of those movies that may feel overwhelming depending on who you are.
The humour comes at you fast and quick, erratic at times, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this film.
This is based on a child's book by Dav Pilkey, who also wrote Captain Underpants, one of the greatest superheroes of all time. The premise is wild, traumatic if you look at it as an adult.
So, here we go. A cop loses his head, his service dog loses his body, and doctors, in their infinite wisdom, stitch the dog's head to the human body. Now, Dog Man is part dog, part human, and all crime-fighting machine. It’s a premise that makes zero sense, but that’s part of what makes this absurdly entertaining.
With that said, I see you ask yourself; will I be able to sit through it without losing my mind? Dog Man is an animated movie that understands clearly what it is. It serves children but makes an effort to ensure that the parents don’t get left behind.
DreamWorks has been taking an interesting direction in animation lately, moving away from the glossy, ultra-polished look of their past films. Dog Man embraces a 3D sketchbook aesthetic that borrows a lot from Pilkey’s original drawings.
Characters are exaggerated, the animation mixes a lot of styles, its clean with a slightly rough, hand-drawn feel, and at times, the frame rate drops making it feel like stop-motion film. It’s a fun visual style that sets it apart from other animated films and adds to the movie’s offbeat charm.
Dog Man throws everything at you. Think slapstick, wordplay, random absurd side gags but even with the madness, surprisingly, a lot of it works. The film is aware that you as the parent will be in the theatre and it sneaks in jokes and random moments that will have you bursting out in laughter.
The voice cast was an interesting choice; Pete Davidson as Petey the Cat? Surprisingly great. He gives the character a smarmy, sarcastic energy that works perfectly. Lil Rel Howery as Chief is the real MVP, though, his over-the-top reactions and delivery make every scene he’s in funnier. Somehow, they snuck Ricky Gervais in the film, and it worked.
Nitpicks
The first act is fast, utilising sharp humour, quick setups, and great pacing. The last act ties everything up in a perfect thoughtful manner.
But the middle is not as strong as the opening. There are extra subplots, some unnecessary frantic action sequences, and random moments that don’t add much to the story.
The other thing, this movie is so fast-paced it doesn’t give you the time to breath, which makes it feel like you are working to just keep up.
All in all
Overall, I was surprised by how this, even with the madness, feels like a movie. I mean at the end of it the story somehow ends up making you feel something. It has an okay message, especially for children, which adds some weight to the story. Even when the movie is too busy bouncing from one gag to the next, it somehow finds its way back to the story.
Who is this for?
If you have children who loves cartoons in general, this is a no-brainer. They will have a good time. It’s fast, funny, and packed with enough absurdity to keep them entertained.
If it's just you, the movie works to appeal to the child in you and in one way or the other it will depend on how much you like over-the-top, slapstick-heavy animation.
Dog Man is awesome, yes, sometimes visually loud, silly, and full of energy but in general, it's an enjoyable experience. Don't get me wrong, it’s not a masterpiece, but it’s way better than your average children’s movie.
