Mark Kermode Reviews Animated Film Dog Man

Dog vs Cat

Mark Kermode just reviewed new animated film Dog Man out in cinemas now based on the successful Dav Pilkey kids graphic novel for Kermode and Mayo’s Take and here’s his review…

Dog Man, half dog and half man, he is sworn to protect and serve as he doggedly pursues the feline supervillain Petey the Cat.

Here’s wikipedia’s description of it:Dog Man is a 2025 American animated action comedy film based on Dav Pilkey‘s children’s graphic novel series Dog Man. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures, it is a spin-off and story within a story of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017) and the second film in the Captain Underpants franchise. The film was written and directed by Peter Hastings, and stars the voices of Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Poppy Liu, Stephen Root, Billy Boyd and Ricky Gervais, with Hastings providing vocal effects for the titular character.

DreamWorks Animation announced a film adaptation of Dog Man in December 2020, with Hastings set to direct after his experience with Pilkey’s works from The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants (2018–20). Karen Foster joined as a producer in January 2024, and the cast was announced that September.

Dog Man premiered at the 2025 edition of the Festival de l’Alpe d’Huez in Alpe d’Huez, France on January 15, 2025, and was theatrically released in the United States on January 31, to positive reviews from critics.