Dog Man

Original title:	Dog Man
Director:	Peter Hastings
Release:	Cinema
Running time:	89 minutes
Release date:	31 january 2025
Rating:

When a police officer and his faithful canine companion are both injured in the line of duty, a surgical operation as senseless as it is miraculous binds them together forever, giving birth to the one we will henceforth call Dog Man. Since then, he has devoted himself as much to serving his country as to retrieving whatever is thrown at him, whether sitting or rolling on the ground. He strives to prove himself under this new identity to better impress his superior, putting an end to the atrocities of the infamous Petey the Cat. Never short of bad ideas, the feline recently found nothing better than cloning himself to double his capacity for crime. But things get complicated when Lil Petey, his very young clone, falls into the clutches of a common enemy. To save the little kitten, the dog and the cat reluctantly join forces in a race against time. They discover that family ties can bring even the most hostile of enemies together.

Mulder's Review

When you sit down to watch Dog Man, the latest animated feature film adapted from Dav Pilkey's beloved graphic novel series, you expect to have a good time filled with zany antics, visual gags and the chaotic energy that captivates young audiences. What you might not expect, however, is how crucial the film's musical score is to shaping its emotional core. Composer Tom Howe delivers an unforgettable soundtrack that not only enhances the action-packed spectacle, but also adds nuance to characters who, in some cases, don't even have dialogue. This is not just a movie about a hybrid cop with superpowers who chases an evil feline, it is a masterful lesson in how music can bring out the heart of a story.

From the start, Dog Man propels you into its hyperactive world. Ohkay City is a metropolis that is both familiar and absurd, a playground where logic bows to the rules of childhood imagination. The film wastes no time in setting up its premise: Officer Knight and his faithful companion K-9 Greg are the victims of a catastrophic accident while pursuing their nemesis, the cat Petey. In a last-ditch attempt, Greg's head is surgically attached to the officer's body, giving birth to the Dogman, a hero with the heart of a dog and the responsibilities of a man (some will be reminded of Robocop). The absurdity of this premise is part of the film's charm, and director Peter Hastings embraces it with contagious enthusiasm.

Yet for all the film's unbridled action and slapstick comedy, it is the music that often carries the emotional weight. Tom Howe's compositions oscillate between playful and poignant, ensuring that every chase, every moment of triumph and every heartfelt interaction has the right impact. One of the most brilliant aspects of the score is the way it compensates for Dog Man's lack of verbal communication. Unlike his arch-enemy Petey, whose voice is interpreted with delightfully mischievous flair by Pete Davidson, Dog Man is a character who expresses himself only through howls, barks and impatient gasps. This could easily have been a limitation of the narrative, but Tom Howe's musical cues imbue Dog Man with a rich emotional palette. Its main theme, a mixture of heroic brass with a slightly zany undertone, perfectly sums up a character who is both an irresistible force for good and an excitable puppy who can't resist a game of fetch.

The relationship between Dog Man and Li'l Petey, the adorable clone of his feline enemy, forms the emotional backbone of the film. Li'l Petey's innocence and unshakeable optimism gradually melt Petey's hardened heart, and this evolution is beautifully reflected in the soundtrack. When Li'l Petey is introduced, the music is light and whimsical, filled with curious woodwinds and bouncy strings that reflect his boundless energy. In contrast, Petey's theme starts off sharp and angular, dominated by plucked strings and a devious, mischievous motif. As the movie progresses and Petey struggles with his new parental role, his theme subtly changes, incorporating elements of Li'l Petey's music, mixing mischief and warmth. It's a subtle touch, but one that adds an emotional depth that is often lacking in mainstream animated films.

Another standout moment comes during one of the film's most moving sequences. In one scene, Dog Man, alone at home, recalls his past life as Greg the dog. Here, Howe removes the explosive instrumentation that accompanies the action sequences, opting instead for a delicate piano piece that swells with nostalgia and longing. The scene, although wordless, says a lot about Dog Man's inner struggle. He may be a hero, but he is also a bit of an outsider, neither quite human nor quite dog. This poignant moment, carried almost entirely by the score, gives the character a level of emotional resonance that elevates Dog Man beyond a simple festival of gags.

Of course, no review of Dog Man would be complete without mentioning the action sequences, which are as delightfully over-the-top as you would expect. Sentient skyscrapers, malfunctioning robots and an evil telepathic fish make for a real feast for the eyes, but it's Howe's dynamic compositions that give these settings their pulsating energy. The music is never an afterthought; it is a character in its own right, driving the action and raising the stakes. Some of the greatest confrontations have an almost operatic grandeur, where orchestral crescendos and pounding percussion give every absurd clash a momentous importance.

Dog Man revels in its own ridiculousness, filling every frame with visual puns, knowing references, and gags that go unnoticed. From Petey's villainous monologues to the exasperated leader's failed attempts to keep Dog Man under control, the film is relentlessly funny. And once again, the music plays a vital role. Howe's playful use of instrumentation (a mischievous clarinet here, a sudden burst of tuba there) underscores the comedy without ever upstaging it. It reminds us that great film music doesn't just accompany the drama; it enhances the comedic timing, making the punchlines even more effective.

While Dog Man is a film that will undoubtedly delight children and longtime fans of the book series, it will also surprisingly appeal to adult audiences. Beneath the zany exterior lies emotional sincerity, a true reflection on the notion of blended families and the power of kindness. In many ways, the film echoes the best of classic animation, adopting anarchic Looney Tunes-style humor without ever losing sight of the heart that makes its characters so endearing.

Dog Man is a triumphant blend of slapstick and sentiment, action and absurdity. And at its core, it owes much of its success to Tom Howe's stellar score. In a film where the protagonist cannot speak, the music speaks for him, and it does so beautifully. It is the glue that holds the disparate elements of the film together, transforming an already fun adventure into something surprisingly moving. Whether you come for the laughs, the action or the sheer madness of it all, Dog Man delivers. Don't be surprised if you find yourself humming its heroic (but slightly zany) theme long after you've left the theater.

What Dog Man also manages to do is strike a unique balance between the fantastic and the familiar. The world it constructs may be an exaggerated and caricatured version of our own, but at its heart it echoes genuine human experiences: loneliness, redemption and the search for belonging. Howe's score acts as a connective tissue, guiding the audience through these emotions while maintaining a sense of childlike wonder. It's a film that reminds us, whether we're young or old, that heroism is not just about strength, but also about heart, and sometimes it's important to have a really good theme song to keep us going.

Dog Man
Written and directed by Peter Hastings
Based on Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
Produced by Karen Foster
Starring Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Poppy Liu, Stephen Root, Billy Boyd, Ricky Gervais
Edited by Brian Hopkins
Music by Tom Howe
Production company: DreamWorks Animation
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates: January 15, 2025 (Alpe d'Huez Festival), January 31, 2025 (United States), April 5, 2025 (France)
Running time: 89 minutes

Viewed February 19, 2025 (VOD)

Mulder's Mark:

Cookie's Review

Here we are in the thick of the action, in the car of police lieutenant Chevalier and his faithful deputy, his dog with his remarkable sense of smell, thus begins the animated film Dog Man directed by Peter Hastings. They are a fine duo in charge of the city's security and in particular of thwarting the plans of the villainous cat Monpetit. A stupid and serious accident during one of their missions will interrupt this fine team. At the hospital, a last-chance but unusual operation keeps the two beings alive, by saving the man's body and attaching his dog's head to it, thus creating Dog Man, half man and half dog.

Dog man is depicted in a sympathetic way with his kepi, his yellow face with an elongated snout, with simple features, his blue suit and his yellow coat of arms, expressive when he shows his joy by barking happily, the young spectators should adore him. His role is to continue working as a policeman, but now unfortunately alone, and to monitor the screens at the police station as his boss strongly recommends, as well as to pursue the naughty cat responsible for numerous offenses in the city. But it is not always easy for Dog Man because he tends to be easily distracted. He loves to run after balls that are thrown at him, but he is full of good will.

In contrast to Dog Man, his worst enemy, Monpetit the cat, who has orange fur with black stripes, is much less friendly, he jumps with anger, has an aggressive, raging face with many sinister plans in view to become the master of the world and destroy the good Samaritans. He is determined to continue being the bad guy and decides to clone himself to increase his ability to achieve his goal. This solution proves to be a failure since his clone ultimately becomes a harmless kitten and not an aggressive adult. He comes to terms with the situation as best he can, because he wants to relentlessly pursue Dog Man and at the same time he has to look after the kitten Little Little and act as a nanny, which is not at all in line with his principles and makes him very angry, which, moreover, will cause him to lose his kitten, by leaving it alone for a few moments at home.

As for Petitmonpetit, he is a darling kitten. He has a big head for his small body and looks like the famous Titi bird. He is kind, full of good intentions, and loves his dad despite his anger and detachment. This unusual bond is also at the heart of the film's main plot and will cause a stir. Until now, the film has been bathed in a rather calm atmosphere with no notable action, just enough to get to know the two protagonists. Now the pace picks up and the tension and power increase with the appearance of scenes of battles, destruction, gigantic robots marching over the city, crushing everything in their path. Monpetit shows his angry face as he flies over the city in a flying machine or patrols in a tank, intent on reviving his creation, the evil fish Budulle, with the spray of life.

In the second half of the movie, many twists and turns take place concerning the relationship between Dog Man and Monpetit, giving it a stronger and more serious tone, with action and suspense, but also more sentiment, love, bravery and respect. The settings, graphics, city buildings, skyscrapers and the fire-breathing tank in the streets are quite well recreated. They are recognizable and add a certain authenticity, with names on the facades such as the hospital, factory and science building.

For the sake of understanding and following the storyline, this film is suitable for an audience aged 6 to 7 years. Before this age, it would be less advisable due to the scenes of destruction and anger, which could be upsetting for young children, and the length of the film, which at 1 hour 34 minutes would be a little too long for them. The characters in this cartoon will appeal to young children, such as the little cat and Dog Man, and the message of friendship and love will also touch them.

Seen on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Publicis cinema

Cookie's Mark: