Peter Hastings’s movie incarnation of the popular graphic novel series presents a cheerful whirlwind of goofball gags, silly puns and moments of real poignancy in an endearing, unpolished package.

DreamWorks has some wonderfully zany creations to its credit and the box-office receipts to back them up, but this one really strains the relationship. It’s exhausting.

It's all very, very silly. That, combined with the relentless pace, should ensure that it delights its target audience of under-tens, but the adults shouldn't fear this dog's bark too much.

With the preponderance of animated films these days appealing to adults as well as kids, a film like Dog Man stands in stark contrast.