The Dogman (2025) movie is a fast-paced action kids film that is definitely childish, but had plenty of funny jokes and heartwarming moments.
The film stars a half dog, half man hybrid who came to be after a freak accident. Albeit the implications of this is horrifying, it does make for some heartfelt moments. One issue I have with the story though is that things are introduced but are quickly established with no real development. For example, one of the villains, Flippy the Fish, is quickly brought up, however they automatically have evil motives with no real reason behind why those motive are there. Flippy is essentially there to create more of a conflict between the Dogman, Petey, and Lil Petey. Also, the jokes can be hit or miss. Some jokes are hilarious and definitely land, however, others are more juvenile, especially the fart jokes. Additionally, I do appreciate how the film celebrates and stays true to the comics of the same name. I've personally never read any of the books, but I can see all fans of the books really enjoying this film.
The animation is also incredibly expressive and adorable. I love the comic-like style of the animation, as it really feels like the movie came out straight of a comic book. The characters are also very pleasant to look at, and the film manages to make simple 2D designs translate well in 3D. It's definitely one to keep the kids engaged and one that adults can enjoy as well.
The characters are also very cute and enjoyable, however, some jokes that the characters make can get annoying after a while. For instance, Lil Petey has a repeating joke of answering "why?" to his clone, Petey the Cat. It's cute at first but it drags on and just becomes annoying. Despite this, Lil Petey is still an adorable little character that adds the heart of the film. I also have to praise how the team behind the film kept the main character, Dogman, as a silent protagonist whose main characteristics are dog-like. This actually adds more heart to the film because DogMan's character is solely built on actions rather than dialogue. He is portrayed as a kind, playful, and intelligent dog. Additionally, the main villain, Petey, has intent behind his over the top actions, as the film discusses real life topics such as abandonment from authority figures (in this case, parents) and seeing the world as a cruel and unjust place. It brings more heart and allows Petey to have a character arc of his own.
Overall, I can definitely recommend this film to fans of the original DogMan comics and children, as children and fans will have a great time seeing this film. Adults can also enjoy this film too, however it may be too childish at times and the animation can be hyperactive, probably making the film a little too much for adult viewers.
