Peter Hastings
Dog Man / Officer Knight / Harold's House (voice)
Overview
When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is sworn to protect and serve—and fetch, sit and roll over. As Dog Man embraces his new identity and strives to impress his Chief, he must stop the pretty evil plots of feline supervillain Petey the Cat.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
6 min readA Boy and His Dog, Reassembled
What’s striking about Dog Man is that it takes one of the silliest premises in children’s entertainment — a cop and his dog fused into a single crime-fighter — and treats it with the kind of straight-faced comic logic that only works if everyone involved commits completely. Peter Hastings doesn’t wink at the audience so much as invite us into the joke and then build a whole grammar around it. latestnetflix.com's view is that the film’s first pleasure is simple: it knows exactly how absurd it is, and it doesn’t flinch.
This is, of course, part of the larger Captain Underpants universe, which already taught Hastings how to translate Dav Pilkey’s anarchic kid-brain energy into a movie that feels hand-drawn by impulse rather than committee. That matters. So many animated adaptations sand off the weirdness in the name of clarity; Dog Man does the opposite, keeping the original books’ homemade visual logic, its puns, its fake earnestness, its love of crudely drawn emotional truth.
The result isn’t just a kids’ movie with jokes. It’s a movie that understands why children like making things up: because invention is a form of power, and also because it’s funny when a cat is evil for basically no reason.
The conversation around the film, at least the one I kept seeing, has been about whether this sort of thing can still feel fresh after so many animated franchises have trained us to expect irony, speed, and pop-culture chatter as a default. I think that’s the wrong question. The better one is whether the movie can sustain childlike ridiculousness without collapsing into self-parody.
Mostly, it can. Hastings lets the story move with the loose, clipped rhythm of a kid narrating a sketchbook fantasy to a friend who keeps interrupting. There’s a freedom in that.
Even when the plot settles into familiar “stop the villain” territory, the film keeps slipping in visual gags and odd little emotional detours that feel handmade rather than engineered.
What I like most is the texture. Animation here isn’t trying to mimic reality so much as comics-as-thought. Faces flatten and stretch; bodies seem to exist halfway between stuffed toy and doodle.
That approach is doing real expressive work. A live-action version would have been doomed by the premise’s own plumbing problems — where exactly does the neck begin, how does the uniform fit, what, medically, is happening? — but animation turns those practical impossibilities into style. The result is less about anatomy than identity.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A fun, chaotic animated adventure that delights kids but leaves adults wanting more depth."
The movie’s vibrant animation and slapstick humor win over younger audiences, with many calling it a hilarious and heartwarming ride. However, older viewers often find the plot thin and the jokes repetitive, latestnetflix.com contends, feeling it relies too much on absurdity without enough substance to back it up.
What viewers praise
- Kid-friendly humor The slapstick comedy and goofy antics consistently entertain younger viewers.
- Vibrant animation The colorful and dynamic visuals are praised for their energy and creativity.
- Heartwarming moments Some scenes resonate emotionally, adding a touch of sincerity to the chaos.
- Strong voice cast The performances, especially from Pete Davidson and Ricky Gervais, add charm and wit.
Common complaints
- Thin plot The story feels underdeveloped, with many calling it more style than substance.
- Repetitive jokes The humor often relies on the same gags, which some find tiresome after a while.
- Lacks depth for adults Older audiences frequently mention it doesn’t offer enough to engage them beyond the surface.
- Uneven pacing Some scenes drag while others rush, making the flow feel inconsistent.
Recommended for
Young kids and families Fans of slapstick comedy Animated adventure lovers Pete Davidson enthusiasts Lighthearted movie seekers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsDreamWorks’ Dog Man (2025): The Animated Superhero Comedy That’s Fetching Big Names
Peter Hastings’ Dog Man (2025) is shaping up to be one of DreamWorks Animation’s most star-studded projects yet—a superhero comedy based on Dav Pilkey’s beloved graphic novel series. The film, a spin-off from Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017), blends slapstick humor with a bizarre origin story: a cop and his K-9 partner are fused together in a botched surgery, creating the crime-fighting hybrid Dog Man. With a cast packed with comedic heavyweights and Hastings at the helm, latestnetflix.com argues, the movie promises to be a chaotic, family-friendly ride.
A Cast That’s Barking Up the Right Tree
The voice cast reads like a who’s who of comedy and animation veterans. Pete Davidson, fresh off his Transformers live-action turn, leads as the titular Dog Man, bringing his signature deadpan delivery to the role. Davidson’s casting suggests DreamWorks is leaning into the film’s absurdist tone—imagine his SNL energy but with a talking, crime-solving dog.
Joining him is Isla Fisher (The Great Gatsby, Wedding Crashers) as a key ally, while Lil Rel Howery (Get Out, Rel) and Poppy Liu (Deadpool & Wolverine) add to the comedic firepower. Ricky Gervais, no stranger to animated projects (The Simpsons, Night at the Museum), voices the villainous Petey the Cat, a role that could let him flex his trademark sarcasm. Rounding out the cast are Stephen Root (Office Space), Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings), and Luenell (Borat), ensuring a mix of improvisational talent and vocal range 
.
Notably, director Peter Hastings also lends his voice to the film, though his specific role isn’t detailed in the snippets. Hastings, best known for his work on Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain, brings decades of animated comedy experience to the project, which could explain the film’s rapid-fire humor .
From Page to Screen: A Superhero Mashup
Dog Man adapts Pilkey’s graphic novels, which follow the misadventures of a half-dog, half-man cop as he battles Petey the Cat, a mad scientist feline with a penchant for cloning. The film’s premise—revealed in TMDB’s synopsis—centers on the botched surgery that fuses the officer and his dog, creating a hero who’s equal parts loyal and chaotic. The stakes? Petey’s plan to clone himself and unleash an army of evil kittens .
The movie’s tone aligns with DreamWorks’ recent animated comedies, like The Bad Guys (2022) and Trolls (2016), which balance humor for kids and adults. Given Hastings’ background in satirical animation, expect Dog Man to skew toward meta-jokes and fourth-wall breaks. The inclusion of Gervais, a master of dry wit, hints at a villain who might mock the superhero genre itself.
Behind the Scenes: A Spin-Off Success?
Dog Man isn’t just a standalone project—it’s a spiritual successor to Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, another Pilkey adaptation. That film, also directed by a DreamWorks veteran (David Soren), grossed $125 million worldwide and proved there’s an audience for Pilkey’s brand of humor. Dog Man could capitalize on that built-in fanbase while attracting new viewers with its star-studded cast .
Production details are scarce, but the film’s 2025 release suggests it’s been in the works for years. DreamWorks has a history of long development cycles for its animated features, and Dog Man’s voice cast indicates a push for mainstream appeal. If the movie delivers on its comedic potential, it could spawn sequels or even a TV series, given Pilkey’s expansive book series.
What’s Missing? The Unanswered Questions
Despite the buzz, some details remain under wraps. The snippets don’t reveal:
- Budget or box office expectations: DreamWorks hasn’t shared financial targets, but given the cast and marketing push, it’s likely aiming for a Minions-level splash.
- Musical numbers: Will Dog Man include original songs, like Trolls or Sing? The evidence doesn’t say.
- Cameos or Easter eggs: Pilkey’s books are packed with references to other characters (like Captain Underpants). Will the film include nods to them?
Rumors about a post-credits scene or a teaser for a sequel are unconfirmed, but given the franchise potential, it wouldn’t be surprising.
The Bottom Line
Dog Man (2025) is poised to be a major player in DreamWorks’ lineup, blending a bizarre premise with A-list comedy talent. With Hastings’ animated pedigree and a cast that includes Davidson, Gervais, and Fisher, the film could be the next big thing in family-friendly superhero spoofs. Whether it lives up to the hype—or just fetches a few laughs—remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: this isn’t your average talking-dog movie.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.