Film Review: “Dog Man”

Dog Man stays on a kid-friendly leash

Dog Man leaps into action!

Author and cartoonist Dav Pilkey’s successful kids book series, Captain Underpants, was adapted into a 2017 box office success. Pilkey’s other book series, Dog Man, is receiving the same treatment. The Dog Man feature film is, for lack of a better term, harmless. The script’s jokes are cute, the narrative is briskly paced, and the voice acting is solid. If you have small kids, there’s a strong likelihood that they’ll really enjoy Dog Man. If you don’t have kids, there’s not a lot in the film for you. Continue reading “Film Review: “Dog Man””

Film Review: Muppets Most Wanted

For better or worse, it’s very Muppet-y.

The Muppets make a deal.
The Muppets make a deal with the Badguy, Dominic Badguy.

In 2011, when The Muppets resurrected the colorful bunch back into the mainstream (much thanks to Disney), it did so through a heartwarming tale that focused on the forgotten bond between humans and muppets that had been so strong for decades.  The human element was a crucially strong point of emphasis.  With that movie now in the rearview mirror, Muppets Most Wanted, despite the disappointing title, marks a return to the traditional form that the muppets are known for — slapstick gags, self-referential humor, and a stampede of celebrity cameos.  The result is a fun explosion of muppet goofiness with catchy musical numbers, with the human characters reserved for moving the plot along, but nothing more.

Continue reading “Film Review: Muppets Most Wanted”