Meet Dog Man: The Animated Hero with a Twist

Our guest reviewer, Nick Gibbs-McNeil, says Dog Man is the first must-see family film of 2025. It’s beautifully barmy and lots and lots of fun!!!

Part man, part canine, all bark! It’s time to meet Dog Man!

ROBOCOP CALLED. He thinks it’s time to reboot his animated kids’ show!!! Not heard of Dog Man before? I guarantee over the coming weeks, you will definitely know all about him as the new DreamWorks movie hits cinemas this weekend. Based on the hugely popular book series for youngsters, Dog Man follows the story of a Police officer and Police dog involved in a tragic accident while on the call of duty. To save both, surgeons decide to surgically attach the head of the dog to the body of the police officer. Yes, I promise this is genuinely a children’s movie!!!

Dog Man (2025) — *(from left) Li’l Petey (Lucas Hopkins Calderon) and Dog Man (Peter Hastings) in DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man, directed by Peter Hastings.*

VOICE TALENTS

This beautifully animated movie, helped by the voice talents of Pete Davison, Lil Rel Howery, Poppy Lui, Isla Fisher, and Ricky Gervais, offers something a bit fresh to the cinematic family market. At 94 minutes, it’s the perfect length for all young cinema lovers. Parents will really enjoy the movie for around 45 minutes. There’s lots of silliness for adults to laugh out loud at in a Mighty Boosh-style way.

VERDICT

The film never hides from its parallels with Robocop with a few nods to the classic sci-fi cop film. But it is predominantly an out-and-out kids’ film rather than a family movie, and the youngsters will walk out gleaming from the experience. With parents enjoying the financial investment of getting an hour and a half’s quiet time in a dark cinema auditorium.

Dog Man is definitely the first must-see family film of 2025. It’s beautifully barmy and lots and lots of fun!