Dog Man
Dog Man is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated PG. Common Sense says 6+.
Dog Man, half dog and half man, is sworn to protect and serve as he doggedly pursues the feline super villain, Petey the Cat.
STORY: B
With great goofiness comes great power.
Dog Man demonstrates the power that comes from committing 110% (that’s 770% in dog percentages) to a single tone. Which in this case is a mildly irreverent, ever-frenetic, absolutely silly one.
It doesn’t matter what the plot is when the storytellers are this serious about having boundless amounts of fun.
PEOPLE: B+
No matter who’s on screen, the character chemistry soars.
Each character has an established (and amusing) conflict with every other character. That world building - combined with the slew of fantastic voice performances - means there’s never a dull moment.
FILM NERD STUFF: B+
The opening sequence’s animation is remarkably vibrant and lifelike.
Its detail grounds you in this imaginary world so thoroughly that you’ll swear you can smell the magic marker and cardboard. That sense of place - even a place that’s an imagined version of an imagined place - gives the story just enough weight of wonder to lock in our attention for the duration of the movie.
ONE BIG LESSON: B-
The key to happiness is a growth mindset.
I admit that it may be a stretch to try and pull a life lesson from this film. But it’s undeniable - every character who winds up better off than they were when the movie started does so because they accept this one, single truth: there is a lot more to be enjoyed in this world than what you can see through your current point of view.
That doesn’t necessarily mean your current viewpoint is “wrong.” It just means that if you don’t open yourself up to other ways of seeing the world, it’s like ordering at a restaurant where you can only see one page of the menu. The best stuff might be lying just a flip of the page away.
FINAL COMMENT:
This is a silly film. It’s a fun film. And it’s the rare film that everyone in the family will enjoy. The kids will howl with delight, and the parents won’t be scratching at the theater doors, begging to go outside.
Trust me. Sit. Stay. Watch. Who’s a good movie? Dog Man is a good movie. Yes, it is.