On January 31st, 2025, DreamWorks finally released the highly-anticipated Dog Man movie, an exciting and fresh cinematic adaptation of the iconic Dav Pilkey book series. For long-time fans and those who have read the books, it’s exciting, but for new viewers, it’s a bit confusing to say the least. The Dog Man books, which debuted in 2017, quickly became a fan favorite along with the new idea of a hero who is part dog and part man. Known for his humorous works, Dav Pilkey has worked hard to make this happen and has made a crazy mark in the graphic novel world. However, for long-time fans, the release of the movie has brought mixed initial reactions, as fans are both curious and excited to see how the movie holds up to the books.
Dog Man is a spin-off series from Dav Pilkey’s earliest success with Captain Underpants. The books follow the adventures of the dog-gone hero, a crime fighting mutt with a human body and a heart of gold. Fans of Captain Underpants immediately found a sense of familiarity with amazing characters such as Petey the Cat and 80-HD. However, the Dog Man series has its own unique charm, and Pilkey found an amazing way to combine potty humor with serious stories of courage, friendship, and loyalty. This has captivated readers worldwide, and set Pilkey in stone as one of the most amazing children’s authors of the twenty-first century.
Although the 2017 Captain Underpants movie was a moderate success, it left the stage open for a movie adaptation of Pilkey’s other works, and created a sense of desire in fans. However, many readers were disappointed that the Captain Underpants movie didn’t receive a sequel, after being left on a cliffhanger before the credits rolled. This caused some fans to initially feel worried about the Dog Man movie, due to chances of another cliffhanger being higher than fans would like.
Unlike the Captain Underpants movie being a direct retelling of the book stories, Dog Man takes a more creative approach and creates its own unique story. The film blends several story and character elements from several different Dog Man books, and creates an entirely unique story that isn’t strictly following any book or plot point. Although this decision was risky, it has earned praise from long-time fans by giving a new story with old beloved characters. However, in addition, it has caused newer viewers to be confused, as they are not familiar with the characters or original book storylines.
The Dog Man film may introduce audiences to a new enemy, but it also explores familiar dilemmas and relationships from the books that fans new and old love. Dog Man’s loveable sense of humor and justice is fully displayed on the big screen, and through sidekick character appearances such as Li’l Petey, the loveable charm of Pilkey’s literature is brought to life. However, the fast-faced action sequences in the film may leave some viewers, especially newer fans unfamiliar with the books, feeling confused about the connections or history between characters.
For long-time Dog Man readers such as Dean Jordan, the movie is a nostalgic callback to the exciting world they’ve known for a while. Jordan went on to say, “It was amazing to finally see these characters come to life. The movie really captured the fun and excitement of the books, even if the plot is a bit of a mix. But that’s part of the charm—it’s always a little chaotic and unpredictable.” Jordan’s sentiments help to convey the excitement of older fans who are ecstatic to see their beloved characters come to life in the theater, even if the film’s story is new.
However, not everyone shares the same enthusiasm as Jordan. Trent O’Connor, a newer Dog Man fan who only recently discovered the series upon the film, had a more mixed reaction to it. O’Connor stated, “Dog Man is really exciting and funny, but the movie was kind of all over the place. I hadn’t read the books, so I was confused by some of the references and character backstories. It just felt like there were a lot of inside references I didn’t understand.” O’Connor’s reactions highlight one of the challenges of the film; it leaves newcomers struggling to follow.
In conclusion, Dog Man is an exciting and fun adaptation of a beloved book series. For old fans familiar with the books, it’s an incredible opportunity to see characters come to life in a new way with a creative twist. For newer fans, however, it may take a bit more effort to understand the full context, but they can still receive the engaging experience with a tiny bit of work. Whether you’re a new or old fan of Dog Man, one thing ios certain- the movie’s release has reignited the flame in the franchise’s interest, and the impact is likely to last for years. Fans of all ages will continue to love Dog Man, and as the franchise continues to expand, who knows what adventures lie ahead for our iconic dog hero?
