Netflix’s new Marmaduke is a mediocre animated film that brings little that is new to the table. 

The movie follows a Great Dane named Marmaduke (Pete Davidson) who is working with dog trainer Guy Hilton (Brian Hull) to transform himself from an ill-behaved dog to a world champion show dog after his owners, the Winslows, grow tired of his constant antics. 

The film tries to incorporate a good amount of humor, but a majority of the comedic moments fall flat. The children’s movies that achieve the most success are often written to appeal to people of all ages. However, Marmaduke seems to have only been made for younger children, which makes it hard to watch for older audiences.

The writing is also all over the place, as some of the storylines seem to end abruptly with little explanation. The movie begins to drag near the end, with the writers attempting to fit multiple stories into the last 20 minutes of the film. 

However, the movie does have a few redeeming qualities. 

The animation style in Marmaduke is unique and unlike most popular animated movies. 

Also, the film portrays the underdog storyline very well, as the audience cannot help but support Marmaduke in his journey to become a champion. Although the “rags to riches” storyline is fairly common in movies, Marmaduke incorporates this trope well and is able to create sympathy for the dog. 

The relationship between Marmaduke and the youngest kid, Billy (Terri Douglas), is endearing and one of the high points of the film. 

Netflix’s Marmaduke is not an awful film, but its inconsistent storylines and failed humor make it unlikely that audiences will return after their first watch.