After a long week of spelling quizzes, multiplication tables and four square games, elementary schoolers got a much-needed reward: seeing “Dog Man” in theaters. The stress of third grade washes away for 89 minutes of movie magic. No matter how the grade-wide spelling bee turned out, life is perfect for that moment.

The same feelings of peace are entirely attainable for college students. Simply buy a ticket for “Dog Man.”

“Dog Man,” for those unfamiliar, is the story of a half-dog-half-man cop. He spends his days trying to save Ohkay City from the wicked paws of Petey the Cat. Petey, who the aptly named Pete Davidson voices, is a Dr. Doofenshmirtz-type villain making over-the-top inventions.  

The movie is actually based on a popular children’s book by the same name. Additionally, “Dog Man” also happens to be a part of the Captain Underpants Universe — a book series I had absolutely no interest in as a kid. 

This is to say, I am not entirely sure what compelled me to see “Dog Man.” 

The ethics of “Dog Man” are slightly questionable as surgeons combine a human and a dog after the duo gets blown up on the job. While the name of the movie should have tipped me off, I was entirely shocked when this happened. Even once I got over that, after being released from the hospital, Dog Man finds out that his girlfriend (also his dog owner) has left him (them?) and he has lost his house. I was stunned speechless within the first 10 minutes of screentime.

While things are rough at the start, “Dog Man” becomes more enjoyable. It is fun to get wrapped up in a goofy world where locations are named things like “The Supa Awesome Science Center Over There;” The villain even hides in “Petey’s Secret Lab” which is marked with a huge neon sign.

As someone unfamiliar with the Captain Underpants Universe, I later discovered “Dog Man” is a comic within a comic, supposedly written by the kids of “Captain Underpants,” which accounts for the goofy names and overall ridiculous world of the movie. It truly takes the viewers for an inside peek into a childlike mind. The movie also has a family element, which makes it undeniably charming.   

Still, the recently released animated movie is not great; it’s barely even good. The post-watching conversation is mostly “Oh, that was cute, I guess.” Still, it was an hour and a half of watching a low-stakes movie in a comfortable chair. There were no emails to answer or job postings to sort through — instead, just animated fun. 

While I cannot wholeheartedly endorse a trip to the theaters for “Dog Man,” I can certainly do so for one special bear.

“Paddington in Peru” is finally arriving in American theaters later this week, and it is the perfect movie to see to take a quick break and have a bit of carefree fun. The London-based bear is set to bring his (often marmalade-related) hijinks to an adventure in Peru along with the entire Brown family. The third installment of the Paddington series also features Antonio Banderas and Academy Award-winning actor Olivia Colman. 

Following up on the two previous gorgeous movies, the third Paddington remains beloved by audiences. So while it can feel necessary to fill up every minute with internships, clubs and studying, a brief visit with an absolutely adorable bear may just be the refresh you need this February. 

In the summer of 2022, the “Gentle Minions” trend got teenagers in theaters for “Minions: The Rise of Gru” (2022). Entire showings were sold out by kids in suits. 

Maybe “Gentle Minions” was supposed to be ironic, but it was the kids that went to theaters earnestly for the original “Despicable Me” (2010). Sure, some people find the minions annoying, but they were undeniably the talk of the town in second grade. 

The trend was ostensibly for TikTok, but it ended up being groups of friends seeing a nostalgic childhood classic. 

I graduate in about three months, and yes, it is a very frightening thought. I spend my days studying for the LSAT and scrolling through LinkedIn, while I spend my sleepless nights stress-scrolling through various post-grad-related subreddits that never calm my nerves. 

In between that, I am making a conscious effort to enjoy the last of my four years, and a theater trip with friends is truly one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Whether it’s a dog-human hybrid, a marmalade-loving bear or thousands of little yellow henchmen, consider seeing a kid’s movie for your next study break. Also, because movie tickets are now over $20, take advantage of AMC Discount Tuesdays where tickets, in my experience, are around $7, compared to the usual $25 at The Grove. 

​​Kimberly Aguirre is a senior writing about comedy. Her column, “Comic Relief,” runs every other Monday.