Dog Man (2025) is a colorful, chaotic kids’ flick that earns a 6/10 for its heart and humor but stumbles with an overstuffed plot.
This animated take on Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series follows the half-dog, half-human cop (Peter Hastings) fighting crime and facing off against Petey the Cat (Pete Davidson) in Ohkay City. The story bursts with goofy charm and themes of friendship, particularly through Petey’s bond with his kind clone, Li’l Petey (Lucas Hopkins Calderon).
However, the plot juggles too many arcs, feeling cluttered and rushed, diluting the emotional payoff. Peter Hastings’ direction delivers vibrant animation and clever visual gags, but uneven pacing bogs down the middle. Davidson’s sly Petey and Calderon’s sweet Li’l Petey shine, with Hastings’ expressive barks adding heart. Isla Fisher and Lil Rel Howery bring fun energy, though Ricky Gervais’ Flippy is underused.
The lively score and kid-friendly humor hit the mark, but a tighter script and deeper focus on key characters could’ve elevated it.
Dog Man is a fun, flawed adventure for young fans.
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