Dog Man

March 18 – 20

7 pm Tuesday – Thursday

Kids / Family / Comedy / Animation
Rated G – 1h 29m

Brace yourself to enter the Captain Underpants cinematic universe. The immensely silly, pleasantly bonkers Dog Man started life as a comic book written by the two primary-school protagonists of Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants books before becoming its own bestselling series: one that’s been notably successful in converting reluctant readers into book fans and even aspiring comic-book artists. Now it’s joined its progenitor as a frenetic and very funny animated film.

DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man, the long-awaited adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s beloved children’s graphic novel series, bursts onto the screen with a mix of madcap comedy, high-energy action, and a surprisingly heartfelt core. Written and directed by Peter Hastings, the film serves as both a spin-off and a story within a story of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017), expanding the franchise with a fresh but familiar sense of humor.

Featuring an ensemble voice cast led by Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, and Stephen Root, Dog Man delivers a wildly entertaining adventure that will delight young audiences and amuse older viewers. Visually, Dog Man is an explosion of color and creativity, with its animation embracing a hand-drawn, exaggerated style that feels like a direct extension of Pilkey’s illustrations. The film’s action sequences are as energetic as its humor, featuring over-the-top chases, slapstick-fueled battles, and a particularly inventive climactic showdown involving Flippy, a telekinetic fish-turned-villain.

What truly sets Dog Man apart from standard slapstick comedies is its surprising emotional core. While the film never takes itself too seriously, it does take the time to explore themes of acceptance, second chances, and found family. The relationship between Petey and Li’l Petey offers the most poignant moments, adding unexpected layers to the film’s otherwise straightforward narrative. Petey’s backstory, involving an abusive father, is handled with sensitivity and reinforces the idea that people (or, in this case, cats) are not bound by the mistakes of their past.