"Dog Man" is a mix of many elements: personal struggles, friendship and fatherhood themes, political corruption intrigue, and a noteworthy dose of absurd, slapstick humor. In attempts to merge these many genres, writer-director Peter Hastings falls short, presenting often convoluted themes and characters within a rather brief runtime.
Among the notable characters is police officer Knight (voiced by Hastings), who along with his canine companion Greg (also voiced by Hastings), are on a mission to finally bring to justice the troublesome Petey the Cat (Pete Davidson). Their adventures become utterly bizarre when an explosion forces surgeons to literally combine the duo into a human-dog hybrid "supa cop," Dog Man.
Dog Man becomes the city's ace officer, repeatedly capturing Petey, who irritatingly always seems to escape. The villain's schemes involve cloning, bringing a fish back to life, and lots of trouble for Dog Man and everyone around him. Yet, absurd as it may seem on paper, the film struggles to follow through to create a balance among all its elements, resulting in a sporadic and somewhat confusing narrative.
Even though the film is suitable for all ages, it struggles to settle the right mix of humor and sentimentality, thus failing to captivate both young and adult audiences simultaneously. Loud, tiresome and half-baked, the film’s emotional moments often feel unauthentic due to the fast-paced narrative that leaves little room for reflection.
Despite the bumps along the way, there are genuinely entertaining moments in this audacious film. Notably, scenes touching on themes of empathy, overcoming childhood trauma, and turning bad circumstances into better ones offer moments of respite. Yet, these scenes of depth are often overshadowed by the relentless pace and humor.
The animation itself is charming, with a distinct textured look that adds novelty. The personalities of the characters are well-reflected in their character design. Emotional scenes are amplified with an enticing color palette. The much-needed expressiveness in the characters' facial features pulls the narrative together when the pace becomes overwhelming.
However, the inability of the story to streamline its wide range of themes and subplots ultimately feels like a lost opportunity. It's undeniably possible to balance humor, action, and unexpected depth in an animated film – as demonstrated by other films in the genre – but unfortunately, "Dog Man" falls short in this regard.
