Before Dog Man, Check Out This Underrated Dav Pilkey Adaptation

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Some children’s book authors are content with having one successful literary series, but author Dav Pilkey consistently creates stories that connect with kids globally. Known for Captain Underpants, Pilkey has also penned other popular youth-oriented books like the Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot series. However, in today’s world, Pilkey’s greatest literary achievement is the Dog Man series, a collection of graphic novels launched in 2016. Since then, these books have amassed such a large fan base that they inspired a DreamWorks Animation film adaptation, directed by Peter Hastings.

It’s easy to forget that Dav Pilkey is known for more than just his dog-themed crime fighter character, as “Dog Man” is poised to take over movie theaters everywhere. Interestingly enough, Pilkey and DreamWorks Animation’s collaboration didn’t begin with “Dog Man” in 2025; they also worked together on the 2017 film adaptation of “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.” This often-overlooked production is a must-watch for fans of its zany, source material-faithful humor.

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Kept Things Simple

In the case of bringing the Captain Underpants books to life on the big screen with “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie,” it seemed wise to adhere closely to the original concept. This is because the source material’s foundation lies in the misadventures of mischievous fourth-graders, George Beard (played by Kevin Hart) and Harold Hutchins (Thomas Middleditch). They use a hypnosis ring to turn grumpy school principal Mr. Krupp (Ed Helms) into the cheerful superhero Captain Underpants. Initially intended as a momentary joke, this transformation causes ongoing issues since whenever Krupp hears someone snap their fingers, he promptly removes most of his clothes and embarks on a crime-fighting spree.

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Fortunately, the computer-generated animation in Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie maintains Pilkey’s unique artistic flair. This is a far more satisfying result compared to fitting the Captain Underpants characters into the standard CG human designs seen in previous DreamWorks productions like Bee Movie and Monsters vs. Aliens. The movie boasts a clean, homemade aesthetic, as evidenced by the characters’ simple black dots for eyes instead of intricate, lifelike pupils.

This method imparts an engaging vibe to the narrative. In fact, The First Epic Movie mirrors the rebellious spirit of George and Harold by not sticking strictly to computer animation for its storyline. Certain scenes are narrated using hand-drawn sketches, reminiscent of what these kids would draw in their diaries. Additionally, a sequence is presented through the “flip-o-rama” method, which was used in the original Captain Underpants books. Most notably, a humorous detour featuring George and Harold envisioning their most disastrous future versions is conveyed using sock puppets.

It requires a true imaginative misfit to turn sock puppets into an unamusing spectacle, but fortunately, Soren and his team don’t fall under that category. Instead, they bring this whimsical idea and other visual oddities to life with a comedic touch. The illustrations in the original Captain Underpants books were unlike anything else in children’s literature. It’s only fitting that the movie, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, would carry on this uniqueness in its visual style.

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Is Just Deeply Amusing

The First Epic Movie” is set to grace the big screen with Nicholas Stoller, a longtime writer for Judd Apatow comedies like the Neighbors films, handling the script. Having someone like Stoller on board guarantees a touch of genuine humor in “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie”, even when the plot unfolds with a villain named Professor Pee-Pie Diarrheastein Poopypants Esquire (played by Nick Kroll).

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As a fan, I must say, the carefree comedic vibe of this movie lets the star-studded cast really shine with energetic voice acting performances, unlike what you’d usually see in most DreamWorks or Illumination Entertainment movies from the 2010s. Hart and Middleditch, in particular, seem to be having a blast embodying the physical embodiment of teenage mayhem. Meanwhile, Ed Helms dives headfirst into his roles, bringing out both the over-the-top villainy of Mr. Krupp and the clueless silliness that is Captain Underpants.

As a movie reviewer, I must confess that “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie” isn’t flawless; it struggles somewhat with pacing, suggesting there might have been room for more editing in its 89-minute span. Yet, despite these minor hiccups, this film is an incredibly endearing adventure, boasting a level of visual creativity and clever humor that surpasses initial expectations. With “Dog Man” from Dav Pilkey set to grace the silver screen soon, this seems an ideal moment to immerse yourself in the inaugural cinematic interpretation of this talented author’s work.

Currently, “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie” is available for streaming on Netflix, while “Dog Man” will be showing in cinemas nationwide starting January 31.

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2025-01-27 02:10