Film Review - Dogman (2024)

Anytime I sit before a Luc Besson film there’s expectations prevalent throughout my mind, Dogman is no exception, particularly as unique lead Caleb Landry Jones has a long list of breaching weirdness amongst a plethora of brilliant performances including 2017 duo of Twin Peaks return series and Get Out.

He plays Douglas, whom we first meet wearing Marilyn Monroe attire on a wild and wet night, being pulled over in a van full of various dog species, by bewildered highway patrol.

We discover that they’re all his friends, his babies, his responsibility since rearing them from abandonment.

They are also his accomplices.

Never dull, but definitely a little stretched out; Dogman produces various states of anxiety whilst watching as multiple genres from gangster thriller, action adventure, emotional drama, revenge tale and momentary, slight of hand unexpected romance.

Flashbacks throughout cover atrocities of a tough childhood when Douglas suffered abuse at the hands of his cruel father throwing him into a room a dogs who rally around him in that carries onto adult life. Dysfunctional family life as a young boy only made him vigorously deferential man.

Comion and kindness does flow through Douglas and his canine friends who share so much genuine rapport together they seem to understand every word of the English language, borderline psychic.

During inevitable criminal activity, the doggo’s are equally as happy tiptoeing or tip-pawing through a house silently stealing jewels to attack mode to take down a congregation of gangsters. Certain music cues are purposely there to shock amongst the obscure mayhem whilst Douglas also successfully impersonates Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich.

French stalwart in the director chair Luc Besson is a world away from, The Fifth Element (1997) or personal favourites, among many he’s helmed or produced, The Big Blue (1988) and La Femme Nikita (1990) but that signature style is still noticeable. Maybe too forthright as writer too, there’s little new added to the table in wild action scenes, besides the presence of committed Landry Jones. Not really the comeback film for Besson, as intended.

Co-stars such as feverishly good Grace Palma, is unforgettable as Selma, standing by honourable in extreme circumstances, Jojo T. Gibbs also in fine form full of on screen energy and Australian Derek Siow (The Beekeeper, Zero Dark Thirty) also impressive.

Be ready for an onslaught of mans best friend taking things to the extreme for their owner.