When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is s...
The delightfully colorful “Dog Man” takes Dav Pilkey’s wildly popular graphic novels and brings them to the big screen with all the goofy energy, slapstick humor, and heart fans would expect.
The movie begins with the origin story of its unlikely hero. Tough but reckless cop Officer Knight (voice of Peter Hastings) and his loyal police dog Greg are both injured in the line of duty. In a medical experiment that should make zero sense but somehow works perfectly in Pilkey’s universe, doctors fuse the two together to save them. The result? Dog Man, an endearing half-man, half-dog hybrid who is just as likely to chase his tail or roll over for belly rubs as he is to catch bad guys. Dog Man may not be the brightest, but his heart (and nose) are in the right place.
Pure chaos erupts when Dog Man is called on to stop his nemesis, Petey the Cat (voiced with just the right amount of snark by Pete Davidson). What starts as a zany battle of cops and crooks turns into a story about unexpected family, redemption, and the undeniable cuteness of kittens.
The animation is bright, colorful, and loaded with visual gags, staying true to Pilkey’s doodle-like style while giving it a polished cinematic feel. The action sequences move at breakneck speed, and the animators pack the screen with Easter eggs and visual gags that are fun for all ages.
The voice cast fits the material perfectly. Lil Rel Howery brings fantastic comedic timing as Chief, and Davidson channels a balance of sly humor and charm that keeps Petey from being a one-note villain. The supporting cast (including Isla Fisher, Poppy Liu, and Billy Boyd) also leans into the absurdity with enthusiasm, giving the movie a loose, playful feel that’s irresistible.
Loud, silly, hyperactive, but also sweet at its core, “Dog Man” is an animated romp that manages to balance goofy slapstick with a surprisingly heartfelt story about family, forgiveness, and finding your place in the world. It’s weird, wacky, and bursting with an energy that will win over kids (and probably a few grown ups, too).
