Dog Man (2025)

This is the darkest premise for a kid's movie yet. After surviving an explosion, a man's body is stitched to his dog's head and that somehow makes him a superhero. It sidesteps all the uncomfortable questions: How do all the motor functions work? Who is actually in control, the man or the dog? Why does he sometimes seem intelligent, and other times he's just a dog? Does the man's soul exist trapped within the mind of a dog? He appears to exist in some kind of Orwellian nightmare where he's less than human. But the film never lingers on the horrifying details. I kept getting caught up in the logistics of this world, such as, why do all the cats talk, but the dog can't (not even as a "dog man")?

It's a highly ambitious attempt to establish a new IP, if not frankly exhausting. 

1½ Flippy ki-yay flippy-flippers out of 5

Robbie the Reindeer in Legend of the Lost Tribe (2002)

The first one wasn't great, but the limitations of the story begin to show in this follow-up to Hooves of Fire. I admire it more for its creativity and visual style, but I found myself bored and my attention span wavering. This special again involves the villainous Blitzen seeking to sabotage the other reindeer, while Robbie discovers an underground tribe of Vikings named Magnus and rows with his girlfriend Donner. It all just feels a bit pointless.

2½ rabbit masks out of 5

DAVID BRENT: LIFE ON THE ROAD [2016]

Pip-pip funnyman Ricky Gervais returns to his David Brent character, made popular by the 2001 BBC series The Office, in Life on the Road.
Continuing the mockumentary storytelling of the TV series fifteen years later, here we follow prodigal deadbest Brent, who now fancies himself a rock star, touring the city in his big ol' tour bus and from hotel room to hotel room.  I repeat: "touring" the city.
Brent is just as cluelessly offensive and grotesque as he's ever been, which still makes for some hilarious scenes that are so awkward it's difficult to watch even as a viewer.  Gervais still manages to find sentimentality in the most offensive of areas but that's what he's best at and often reminds us how clueless we carry our own selves.  It's a forgettable Sunday afternoon time-killer at worst and a quiet but welcome return to the Brent character at best.

3 forgone conclusions out of 5

MUPPETS MOST WANTED [2014]

Da Ali G Show writer/director James Bobin returns for a second run with Jim Henson's lovable creations in Muppets Most Wanted.
Like the preceding film, this one is self-aware and not afraid to admit that the "sequel is never quite as good", so with that fuzzy, googly-eyed elephant out of the room we're allowed to sit back and never stop grinning from the silliness we're embarking on.  Oddly enough it does explore some darker areas of the Muppet world but never enough to steer right off track from the fun.  Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey's comic skills are sadly put to waste here but it's Ty Burrell who steals every single scene he's in and that makes up for more than enough.
It might not be as great as the previous film but it's pretty darned close.

3½ pink frogs & green pigs out of 5

THE INVENTION OF LYING [2009]

Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson co-write & co-direct The Invention Of Lying, a seemingly fluffy romantic comedy with cynical undertones.
It takes place in an alternate universe where the concept of lying never existed until it suddenly triggers in one man's brain and spirals out of control.  It takes the viewer into very grey areas about religion, politics, Hollywood and general day to day interactions while dissecting everything most folks take for granted or are oblivious to.  Gervais has a wonderful way of slugging us square in the face with our own stupidity and selfishness, especially where it's cleverly disguised as a harmless rom-com that occasionally even fools itself.  It looks, feels and plays like a generic rom-com but is so much more and unfortunately that doesn't leave much when it comes to the bland technical side of the film.

3 fatty fat faggots out of 5

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION [2006]

Chris Guest & company gather together once more for the Academy Award season satirical film For Your Consideration.

It takes some nasty jab at the way Hollywood & the entertainment business runs but I think a lot of the humour is lost on the average viewer with too many "in the biz" jokes and whatnot.  Catherine O'Hara shines here as the insecure and manic actress on the verge of hysterics.  For some reason Guest decides to drop the mockumentary style he's so good at and it hurts the ab-libbed humour a bit.  Beyond it's many shortcomings, FYC is still wickedly funnier than most inane thoughtless comedies today.

3½ Jezebels out of 5