Dogman (2023)

Director: Luc Besson
Producers: Luc Besson, Virginie Besson-Silla
Screenplay: Luc Besson

Starring:
Caleb Landry Jones as Douglas "Doug" Munny
Jojo T. Gibbs as Detective Munny
Marisa Berenson as Marie Munny
Clemens Schick as Emile
Grace Palma as Young Doug

Music: Éric Serra
Cinematography: Colin Wanders
Editing: Julien Rey
Release Date: September 1, 2023 (Venice), October 6, 2023 (France)
Running Time: 123 minutes
Language: English

 

***SPOILER ALERT***

Dogman: Luc Besson's Latest Misfire

Let's start with a quick mention of Anna, which I decided to skip because I had already seen it on TV and it sucked. It felt like a rehash of Nikita set in Russia with bad accents. Helen Mirren’s performance was a particular disappointment.

And finally, we're here at Luc Besson's latest movie: Dogman. After slogging through some of his recent work, I had hopes that this one might redeem the downward trend. Boy, was I wrong. Dogman is Luc Besson's attempt at a superhero movie, which feels incredibly redundant in today's saturated market. My first impression was that it looked like a Joker ripoff, and that initial thought didn't improve much as the film progressed. The story, told through the tired trope of a psychiatrist confession, is as cliché as it gets. The main character's traumatic childhood is unconvincing, featuring one-dimensional, dumb characters in the form of his religious fanatic father and brother. Their portrayal felt cheap, unconvincing, and disrespectful. Unlike well-crafted fanatics like the couple from The People Under the Stairs, (as an example that came to mind), these characters lacked depth and believability. Besson's writing once again fails to deliver, making the movie feel disjointed and messy, much like his previous works, Arthur, Adèle, Anna and Valerian.

Unbelievable Characters and Lackluster Execution

As I watched, I couldn't help but think about the practical aspects completely overlooked in the film. How does the main character clean up after 100 dogs? The movie shows his place as a mess, but it should look worse. The dogs needed to look worse. The setting should make you feel the stench of dog fur and excrement just by looking at it, but Besson misses this opportunity. Caleb Landry Jones did a great job, giving a magnificent effort, but unfortunately, the movie simply didn't help. His performance wasn't enough to save this mess. Better watch 101 Dalmatians if you're interested in a movie about a lot of dogs. One of the film's most cringe-worthy moments was the playback scene with Edith Piaf. It was meant to be emotional and impressive but is just awkward and stupid, it makes my head hurt, much like the Shakespeare plays for kids. What planet is Luc living?! How would regular kids get excited about Shakespeare?! Then there's the dogman’s dance when remembering his drag days. Really? Luc was taking notes when watching the Joker for sure. Everything in this movie felt wrong, and it was unbearable to sit through until the end.

A Waste of Time and Potential

The dogs, they should have been integral to the story, but they were just there. They should have been memorable characters, but instead, they were just really well trained dogs who could understand images and really complex orders. Besson should have made us remember their names and distinguish them clearly, but he didn't. And don't get me started on those "Home "Alone" traps. Yikes! And the insurance guy with a gun? Was I watching a comedy?? This movie was a total waste of time, and kind of ruined my weekend. Anyone who enjoys it must be high on something.

🎥 Cinematography (4/10):

The visuals are okay, but I needed a more gritty and messy reality among so many dog.

📖 Story (2/10):

A clichéd and unbelievable plot filled with disjointed scenes and tired tropes. The story of the main character's traumatic childhood is unconvincing and poorly executed.

🎬 Direction (0/10):

Luc Besson’s attempt at a superhero movie falls flat. The movie feels like a ripoff of better films and lacks originality.

👥 Characters (1/10):

The characters are one-dimensional and unconvincing.

💥 Visual Effects (0/10):

Whatever.

🎭 Acting (5/10):

The main actor's performance is strong, but the supporting cast and writing drag the overall quality down.

💬 Dialogue (2/10):

Clichéd and unoriginal, the dialogue fails to add depth or interest to the characters and story.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (0/10):

The setting fails to convey the true grime and chaos of living with so many dogs. It lacks the necessary detail to make it believable.

🎵 Music (5/10):

The music is average and forgettable, failing to add any significant impact to the film.

😄 Entertainment Value (0/10):

The film is tedious and difficult to watch, with a few redeeming moments. It’s ultimately a disappointing experience.

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