In 'Dogman', Caleb Landry Jones takes on the role of Doug, a handicapped dog shelter owner with a penchant for drag performances. Regrettably, the movie, a somewhat aimless crime drama, lets Jones down. Despite his immense talent, the lack of a robust script and directorial support sees Jones struggling in an ill-fitted lead role. Despite director Luc Besson's attempts to push Jones's performance, the character of Doug remains an underdeveloped enigma.
The true misgiving of the movie lies in Besson’s inability to smelt the eccentricities of Doug's character into a cohesive narrative. This failure is made even more apparent in juxtaposition of Jones' usually enchanting physicality and the movie's lackluster character development. Jones' portrayal of Doug, though committed, is hindered by the movie's disjointed dialogue and overediting, causing many of his scenes to fall flat.
Doug's tale doesn’t truly come to life even when it ventures into his drag escapades. In efforts to explain Doug’s unusual demeanor, the film introduces flashbacks featuring his cruel older brother and oppressive father, yet these dramatic episodes largely rely on known clichés, offering little depth. The introduction of dogs, as well as several antagonists, into Doug’s present-day existence fails to add to the movie’s realism or a deeper understanding of Doug's character.
In the end, casting Jones in ‘Dogman’ appears to be the film’s biggest downfall. With sluggish scenes and poor dialogue, Jones’ natural, nuanced acting style is not allowed to truly shine. Rather, his presence feels forcibly placed, hitting the wrong note even during the climactic drag scenes. The film's crime-drama-meets-cabaret premise could have been a fruitful area for Jones to display his acting prowess, but lacking the necessary nuance and depth, 'Dogman' fails to take advantage of Jones’ capabilities.
