Today’s quick review: All Dogs Go to Heaven. Charlie B. Barkin (Burt Reynolds), a dog with a criminal lifestyle, meets a bad end when his partner Carface (Vic Tayback) double-crosses him and kills him. Upon arriving in Heaven, Charlie pulls a fast one and escapes back to Earth. With the help of his friend Itchy (Dom DeLuise), Charlie rescues Anne-Marie (Judith Barsi), a girl who can talk to animals, from Carface uses her for his own profit.
All Dogs Go to Heaven is a family animated crime comedy from director Don Bluth. Burt Reynolds stars as the voice of Charlie, a dog who gives up his place in Heaven to get revenge on his partner. The movie manages to tie together three very different ideas: a fantasy about a man given a second chance at life, a family-friendly tale about a secret world of dogs, and a crime story about a criminal who comes to repent his ways.
All Dogs Go to Heaven is a rarity among family films. Not only does it deal with mature topics like crime and death, it also features a protagonist who is unrepentantly selfish. Unlike other criminals with a heart of gold, Charlie spends nearly the entire movie serving his own interests, even taking advantage of an orphan girl just to make money. As such, his moral arc has more weight to it than characters whose criminal side is just for show.
Still, the movie’s style will not appeal to everyone. The combination of mature conflict and cartoonish comedy can come across as odd. The songs are decent but are an awkward fit for Burt Reynolds’ vocal style. The visuals stike a nice balance between detailed and loose, but not everyone will like their particulars. The story also has a few weaknesses, such as plot elements that are introduced abruptly and fit in poorly.
All Dogs Go to Heaven is most notable for its premise and its story. Fans of Don Bluth’s work or animated films that touch on more mature themes will find it to be an engaging watch, if not an absolutely spectacular one. Those looking for an animated masterpiece or who simply dislike the genre may want to steer clear.
For a more sober animated movie from Don Bluth, check out The Secret of NIMH. For a story about animals rescuing a little girl, try The Rescuers. For another animated family film about the world of dogs, try One Hundred and One Dalmatians. For an animated film that makes better use of a New Orleans setting, try The Princess and the Frog. For a live action movie about a con man learning to change his ways, try Paper Moon or Matchstick Men.
[6.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096787/). I give it a 7.0 for a a creative fusion of different ideas.