The new ‘Dog Man’ movie sends a heart wrenching message parents can’t ignore

One of Australia’s most loved book series has been turned into a blockbuster film - but the result isn’t anything like we expected.

Sitting in the movie theatre next to my 10-year-old, we are both expecting the next 90 minutes to be a funny and action-packed display of some of our favourite books brought to life.

After all, we’ve come to see Dog Man, the big screen adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s graphic novels of the same name.

For a few minutes, it seems like that it’s the rambunctious, evil-versus-good caper that forms the basis of many of the 13 books released so far.

Soon enough, however, it’s evident that this animated depiction has a lot more to tell its audience than the marketing portrays - and for this parent, it has hit harder than I ever could have imagined. 

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Image: Supplied

What is Dog Man about? 

Just like the popular books, Dog Man tells the story of police officer Knight (Peter Hastings) and his loyal dog, Greg (also Hastings), who have a horrible accident while in the line of duty, but manage to survive when surgeons attach the canine’s head to his owner’s body - hence their new combined name, Dog Man. Sounds ghoulish? Er, yep. But this is a comic that came from the twisted minds of Harold and George from Dav Pilkey’s other famous series of graphic novels, Captain Underpants, so it totally makes sense in a weird sort of way.

Dog Man’s job is to fight crime in Ohkay City, and his arch nemesis is the spiteful orange tabby cat, Petey (Pete Davidson).

The tale’s unexpectedly emotional rollercoaster begins early on, when we discover Dog Man and Petey have something in common: social isolation. Dog Man is suddenly dumped by Knight’s girlfriend, leaving him to find a new home without a friend to speak of, while Petey lives a lonely life in a warehouse ever since his father abandoned him while his mother was dying.

In amongst the hijinks of Petey repeatedly being evil, sent to jail and hilariously busting himself out again in comically creative ways, he scales up his battle to beat Dog Man by creating a clone of himself to double his manpower.

Much to his chagrin, the villainous cat’s machine doesn’t produce what he expected. Instead, Petey is met by an adorable kitten named Li’l Petey, who isn’t keen on learning how to defeat Dog Man at all, but just wants to call his new caretaker ‘papa’ and be by his side.

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Image: Supplied

A journey for the parents

It’s Petey’s journey from here on in that sent this parent on a self-reflecting journey they never expected from a Hollywood movie about a half dog/half man.

It’s fair to say Petey spends a lot of the movie wrestling with an inner turmoil. The feline’s tough exterior and initial rejection of his mini-me is how he manifests the generational trauma caused by his father’s abandonment.

Petey’s relationship with his dad remains fractured just as it began - a reflection of a very real family dynamic where parents often fail their children time and time again.

Petey complains he doesn’t want the responsibility of taking care of a defenceless little kitten, but really, he’s filled with the anxiety of repeating his own father’s mistakes with an offspring that is nothing like him, and a fear of forming any attachments, lest he be left alone once again. How many parents have thought like Petey at one point when he says, “If I made you, why aren’t you like me?”, or “I want my life back” when the throes of child-rearing become all too much?

Petey’s evolution from villain to father-figure is mirrored against Dog Man’s struggle to rebuild his own life, and he, too finds a healing companionship with Li’l Petey, seeing him as his own precious offsider, too.

How does this all play out with his so-called arch rival? We won’t give that away, but for those parents watching who are raising children in ways they didn’t expect, it’s a gentle nod of encouragement that the kids won’t just be okay, they’ll thrive from their village that arises in the most unexpected of places even when life begins with many challenges and imperfections.

In fact, Dog Man’s sub-text is a whole parenting masterclass in everything from emotional regulation, setting boundaries, compassion, communication, adult modelling and how children are a parent’s biggest teacher. Big points are also given for the positive representation of ADHD - which is said to be influenced by Pilkey, who reportedly has it himself. 

Image: Supplied

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The kids will love it 

Yes, despite all this, the film still manages to have kids in stitches, with a few adult jokes and retro movie references to keep us on our toes. 

While Dog Man and Petey are the headliners, our favourite duo for comic relief are the police chief (Lil Rel Howery) and the local television news reporter (Isla Fisher) who are reminiscent of teenagers as they crush on each other from afar.    

With three more books said to be in the works, there are a lot more chaotic adventures in Dog Man and co’s future - and let’s hope this first one on the big screen isn’t their last. 

Dog Man, rated PG, is released through Universal Pictures and in cinemas now.

Originally published as The new ‘Dog Man’ movie sends a heart wrenching message parents can’t ignore