All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) User Reviews

Such a tear-jerker

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 7/10 · 7 September 2007]

I remember watching this movie with my friends when we were 4 years old, but the weird thing is that I never watched it after that. The other day I was babysitting and my cousin never saw All Dogs Go To Heaven so we rented both movies and watched them together today and he really loved these movies. So many memories came back watching this movie once again and I have to admit I even cried a little. I'm 22 years old and the ending still gets to me. All Dogs Go To Heaven is one of the most touching animated films and I'm shocked honestly by this rating of 5.8, I thought this movie would bring back good memories for others as well. I admit the animation was a bit typical but the story is just so charming and fun.

Charlie is a gambling dog who gets killed by another gambling dog, Carface. But when Charlie wants revenge he comes back to Earth with a watch that can't stop ticking or that's the end of his life again. When he and his best friend, Itchy, look for Carface and spy on him they find out how Carface gets all his money, he has a little orphan girl who talks to animals and finds out who is going to win the races. Charlie takes the girl, Ann-Marie, and makes fake promises in order to get the money. But he ends up learning that maybe he should put Ann-Marie first before himself when Carface goes back to him with a vengeance.

All Dogs Go To Heaven is the perfect family film, it's not Disney, but this is an excellent family film to watch. Not to mention that it's just so cute and touching. I know it's ridicules and some people call me crazy, but this movie for me when I was a kid made me believe that dogs have souls. How could they not? They're just so loving, and I think I'm going to cry again. But anyways, I would just recommend this movie for anyone, it's a fun movie to watch.

7/10

One of the most memorable cartoons ever made, should never be forgotten

[FrankBooth_DeLarge · 7/10 · 10 February 2005]

All Dogs Go To Heaven is a movie that I have always liked. When I was a kid, I used to watch this every other day. It is underrated if you look at its IMDb rating and the comments of many people in general. This isn't a bad movie like many say, it is a very good movie. This is good and your kids will probably like it. Even though it's rated G, some parents may find this to be a bit violent. It is actually a pretty dark story, where the dogs are similar to mobsters who are involved in gambling, extortion, and even cold blooded murder. The movie follows a dog named Charlie who had escaped from the pound, is killed by his old friend, goes to heaven, but ends up coming back to earth. Many younger kids watching this movie may feel as though they are watching a big kids movie.

There are some scenes that may scare little kids, but I'm sure they'll do fine. Every time I watch this movie, it reminds me of when I was a little kid. I'm sure everyone has a movie that reminds them of when they were younger, this is the movie that makes me feel that way. The performances from Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise are great, and this is the last movie that a little girl named Judith Barsi was in. Unfortunately, she was killed at a young age, which is a shame because she had so much potential and didn't deserve what happened. Now that I know her story, I can't watch this movie the same way anymore because her voice sounds so sad.

The animation in this movie is great, the voice work is great, and the story is good, but a little bit different from many other kids movies. This was popular at the time of its release, but was over shadowed by Disney's mega popular The Little Mermaid. This is a movie that isn't conceived as well by adults, but if you're a kid, or if you grew up with this movie as a kid, then I'm sure you will enjoy watching it.

Sweet and memorable.

[h_a_taylor · 8/10 · 27 March 2006]

When I was a little girl (and my dad owned a video store), this was among my favorite movies. I hadn't heard much about it since then, nor did I really remember anything about it, it having been forgotten in the wake of Don Bluth's other, probably better films. I managed to track it down a few weeks ago, however, and was pleasantly surprised again. Set in New Orleans in the 1930s, the animation is delightful and the songs are memorable. There are a few goofs in continuity if you look hard enough, but they generally don't detract from the storyline, which leaves you smiling (and maybe even a little misty-eyed, if you are a lover of animals). The characters are believable (maybe even a little too grown-up for younger watchers), as well. Two paws up, and for those of you who haven't seen it in a while, definitely worth a re-watch.

A Cute and Touching Animated Film From The Great Director Don Bluth.

[movies2u · 25 July 2001]

"All Dogs Go to Heaven" is a brillaint and cute animated film from the great director Don Bluth who directed the brillaint film "The Secret of Nimh". "All dogs Go to Heaven" is the one of cutest Metro-Goldwyn Mayer animated films. Don Bluth did a great job directing and I enjoyed the voices of Dom DeLueis and Burt Reynolds. This is a classic family film that is a Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Classic. I give this great film a 10 out of 10!!!!!!

Bizarrely Cluttered albeit Upbeat Dogflick

[elicopperman · 6/10 · 15 April 2020]

Ever had a feature film where you really don't know how to feel about it? You don't hate it by any means, but you also don't really love it all that much either? For me, it's Don Bluth's All Dogs go to Heaven. Noted to be the first Don Bluth feature made after his brief stint with Steven Spielberg (which got him to beat Disney at their own game), the film was practically slaughtered on its original release by The Little Mermaid, although it did gain a massive cult following on home video. In spite of that however, many critics of Bluth's work have stated this marked the beginning of his dark period, and even I can see why.

The film tells the story of Charlie B. Barkin, a casino gambling German Shepherd who gets murdered by his former partner, Carface Carruthers, but leaves Heaven to go to Earth with a rewindable watch. On Earth, he and his best friend, Itchy Itchiford, get back at Carface by using a young orphan girl named Anne-Marie, who teaches them an important lesson about kindness, friendship and love. What sounds convoluted plot-wise is even more muddled in the execution, as the film goes from an inner world in New Orleans with dogs who plot and scheme one-another to then having this orphan child come in out of left field. Throughout the feature, the initial goal of Charlie getting back at his foe feels almost sidelined to focus more on Anne-Marie, as if the filmmakers couldn't make up their minds on how to drive the narrative forward. What's even more frustrating is that both archs work well on their own: the revenge angle presents some fun concepts in this world where dogs coincide on their own and Anne-Marie's presence helps provide the feature with a good amount of heart and emotions. It's just unfortunate that the jumbled tone on deciding whether it wants to be serious or light hearted got in the way of a cohesive story.

Now in terms of characters, Charlie himself comes off more unlikable than the film may have intended. Even when he learns about the meaning of kindness, his actions towards Anne-Marie feel undeserved and rather petty. Yes he's meant to be the wise cracking con artist with a heart of gold, but there are times when his bitterness to others is more mean spirited than necessary. Meanwhile, Itchy is a charming albeit neurotic comedic relief, Carface and Killer are the generic smart and dumb villain types, and anyone else. If any credit must be given to the voice actors, Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise make a great duo as Charlie and Itchy, as their improvisational banter and sardonic remarks are more entertainmenting than most of what goes on in the feature. Also, in spite of this being the last film for child actress Judith Barsi, the sincerity she gave in her performance as Anne-Marie feels like that of a genuinely innocent child who understands right and wrong and wants someone who will love and care for her. I guess for every mangy trait, these characters do have some good in them after all.

Of course, being a Don Bluth film, you're going to have gorgeous visuals, although here it comes with a mixed bag. On one hand, it's cool to have the dogs look and act in a more exaggerated and cartoony manner than the more realistic humans presented, but at times the animals look so exaggerated to the point of looking unappealing and they can't decide whether they want to walk on all fours or be anthropomorphic. Alternatively, the backgrounds are rich in detail, color and atmosphere, whether they be the gorgeous Louisiana landscapes, the surreal dreamlike heaven and hell, or even the abstract multicolor environments with strange creatures (like one such alligator). Also, there are some really bizarre edits in this film, as in you'll get a key shot of a sequence and then it will go away to another shot that will last less than five seconds (seriously, blink and you'll miss some stuff). Lastly, the musical numbers are what I like to call entertaining show stoppers, because as upbeat and catchy as they can be, most of them stop the story dead in its tracks and could have been cut out altogether.

So in the end, All Dogs remains a well intentioned albeit disjointed and somewhat jumbled hodgepodge with a mix of positives and negatives. For every intriguing and freshly new concept, luscious animation, likable character and fun filled song, there's a competing sub plot, bad archetype, questionable filmmaking choice and weak execution that makes the experience feel all over the place. I do recommend this film to a family audience and especially Don Bluth fans, because as scattered as the film feels in its presence, it does offer at least some stuff for people to get acquainted with, whether unintentionally or not.

It was quite weird

[ericstevenson · 6/10 · 28 January 2017]

This movie was really a mixed bag for me and I guess it wasn't quite as good as I thought. I will always give it credit for being better than most of Don Bluth's later work. First, let's look at the positives. The animation is as good as any other Don Bluth film. Second, the voices are great and this is probably Dom DeLuise at his most entertaining voice. Third, this movie really does seem to tackle some interesting topics. I simply love the scenes where Charlie's in Heaven and we get to see this great place in all its detail. It really does have an interesting spiritual tone to it.

There seem to be few movies about going to Heaven. Unfortunately, there were a lot of awkward parts. There were simply too many songs and a lot of them weren't that good. It's really weird with how scenes of the well, big lipped alligator, although I guess he does technically have relevance to the plot as he appears more at the end. I was disappointed that they didn't show Heaven more. The dog angel was probably the most entertaining character in the film and I really did want to see more of that world. I guess this was just an okay film from Don Bluth, but I encourage people to watch it and get their own opinion. **1/2

It made me feel

[IceMan-51 · 10/10 · 3 September 2004]

I've seen this movie when I was young, and I remembered it as one of the first films I have truly liked that was not an action movie or a comedy. So, in my later years I decided to watch it again and see if it was just nostalgia or was there really something in that movie. To my surprise, the movie held to my every expectations. It's a great movie. Emotional in the right amount, some jokes, nice songs (not great though, and that actually explains why I did not remember it was a musical) and all in all a great use to my time. I was surprised because the last movies from my childhood that I have revisited did not even pass my minimal demands of a decent movie and yet this movie, which I first saw in the second grade, made me cry today just like it made me cry then. Maybe that's because my dog died recently and maybe not, but the important thing is that it made me feel, and that's why filmmakers make films (that and the money, of course). Yes, there are continuity glitches. Yes, the script has holes, but it doesn't matter. The movie itself is fun and smart. So don't be fooled by cynical people who always look for the bad things in life, because nothing is perfect, and this movie gets a 10 not because it is perfect. It gets 10 simply because it made me feel.

Dog-Gone it! All Dogs go to Heaven is a pretty good movie.

[ironhorse_iv · 7/10 · 27 June 2014]

In the 1980s former Disney animator Don Bluth gave Disney a run for its money with such hits as 1982's The Secret of NIMH, 1986's American Tail, & 1988's Land Before Time. Then in 1989, All Dogs Go to Heaven came out on the same weekend as Disney's Little Mermaid to try to put the death blow to Disney. What Bluth didn't know, is that Little Mermaid would spark the Disney Renaissance and he would find himself, for the next several years, playing second fiddle at the animation box office, with one last hoorah with 1997's Anastasia. While, Mermaid was indeed a blockbuster success, All Dogs Go to Heaven wasn't a failure. It had a good opening at theaters, but better sell in VCRs tapes than Disney that year. The movie tells the story of 1939's criminal dog, Charlie B. Barkin (voiced by Burt Reynolds) whom finds himself getting murdered by his business partner, Carface AKA the dog version of 'Scarface' Al Capone (Voiced by Vic Tacback). When Charlie to find himself in bored in heaven, he steals a magic life-watch and rewind it, so that he can relive his life, from the point of his murder. He goes back to earth to seek his revenge on Carface, with help from his best friend Itchy (voiced by Dom DeLuise) & a young gifted orphan girl, Anne-Marie (voiced by Judith Barsi) who has the power to speak to animals. The movie's title come from the movie concept, but could had derived from quotes ranging from Robert Louis Stevenson to Mark Twain about what life is in heaven in which Bluth got the idea from. The movie plot is similar to 1934's Little Miss Marker, also known as The Girl in Pawn. After all, Anne-Marie doe looks like an mix between Snow White & Shirley Temple with a lot of Barsi added to it. The movie has a lot of crazy violence, language, drinking, and dark frighten hell imagery that might be not for all children. The movie was actually supposed to be a little darker but they cut the hell scenes and change a tommy gun into a ray gun to get the G rating. It does have some great moral lessons, here about being honest, loyal and understanding love. The movie also has a great spiritual message that some people might love. The idea of heaven here is pretty open to all faiths as it doesn't single out, any one type of religion. Still, some people do believe that All Dogs go to Heaven is about the spiritual journey of humanity through all the stages from the book of Genesis to the New Testament. Let me example it, like Adam, the original man, he was born without original sin and able to live in Paradise. Since dogs are virtue in nature based of the movie, Charlie is able to live in Heaven. Like Adam, Charlie is cast out of heaven, when he steals the watch, which in this case, represent life or the apple in the bible. It wasn't until, he choose to be more Christ-like; he was able to come back to heaven. While, I do believe it's an interesting concept. There are some plot-holes in this interpretation. One might point that that Dogs in the film, already had free-will, and the whole argument of dogs being like original man isn't well-framed. Also, some people believe animals don't have souls, so there isn't a heaven for animals. Other has point that, animals would exist in the Kingdom of Heaven based on scriptures of Isaiah 11:6-9. Still, this really does make it, more complex, when the bible has a lot of negative things to say about dogs. The reason why dogs signify unclean in the bible is due to the fact that dogs eat unclean things. From this, others religions or cultural tradition outside the church control were often deems as evil dogs. To make it worst, bits of the bible also deem homosexual, women and other races as evil dogs. To some Christians, people that are deem dogs would never go to heaven in the bible. What I love about this movie is saying that all dogs go to heaven. If dogs are an allegory to human in this film, than that means nearly everybody should go to heaven. Even murderers like Carface got to go to heaven. Still, it was a bit odd, to see dog's hell play a big part in the film, when it barely has any dogs going there. While, most people might deem the Big Lip Alligator Moment as little to no bearing whatsoever on the plot. In an odd way, some people might see this as a symbol of homosexuality being welcome by new beliefs of Christians. Some view it, as homage to 1933's King Kong. Other view it, as Voodoo Witch doctor falling in love with a zombie. What-ever. It's just there. Another theme that seem to be running around is child abuse. Carface routinely mistreat Anne-Marie. It's really hard to watch, when you find out how much Barsi was physical and mental abuse in real life, before getting shot by her father before this movie came out. The voicing acting is alright. Reynolds & DeLuise really have chemistry, due to them previously appeared together in a number of films. The singing and music numbers weren't that great. 'Let Me Be Surprised' & 'What's Mine Is Yours' proves that Reynolds isn't a good singer. 'You Can't Keep a Good Dog Down" & Let's Make Music Together" was fun, but mediocre. "Love Survives" dedicated in Barsi's memory was pretty beautiful. The film inspired a theatrical sequel, a television series, and a holiday direct-to-video film, that weren't that good. Overall: The animation is beautifully done, but the overall style is grotesque and disturbing. The bittersweet ending didn't help at all. From an artistic standpoint, I think it's a pretty amazing example of animation, but it's not something for all children. Still, it's worth watching.

Bluth's most haunting, unusual, and powerfully poignant film.

[EarthwormJimFan · 10/10 · 7 April 2006]

I loved this film when I was little. Today at 17 it is one of my all time favorite animated films. Beautiful animation and appealing characters are just two of the things to like about this film. Although many people might not enjoy some of the songs, most of them are well-done and go along with the story. It focuses on Charlie, a roguish handsome German Shepard who may seem unlikable to some at first... but eventually will win you over.

Not a kiddie film by any means. Often very dark and frightening at times. A treat for Don Bluth fans and animation buffs. But do keep a tissue in handy. ADGTH never fails to make me cry and will do the same for those who are movie sensitive. Arguably one of the greatest non-Disney animated films of all time. Along with Watership Down and My Neighbor Totoro.

BOTTOM LINE: A heavenly masterpiece.

Not the greatest animation ever made, but well worth watching!

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 24 February 2009]

I can understand why some people like this movie, and why some people don't. For me, though, I really like it, even if I noticed some good bits, and not so impressive bits. The animation was actually excellent, like Charlie's dream. The characters were a mixed bag, the best being Anne-Marie, voiced by the late Judith Barsi.(I was physically ill when I read what happened to her) Also, Carface is a very convincing villain,especially voiced by the wonderful Vic Tayback(I particularly loved "Morons I'm surrounded by Morons") and along with Rasputin and Warren T.Rat is probably the most memorable of all the Don Bluth villains. Charlie and Itchy only just lacked the same sparkle, but I loved King Gator and his song. Some of the film is very haunting, like Annabelle's "You can never come come back", which kind of scares me still. Unfortunately, there were some bits I didn't like so much. The story had a tendency to become clumsy and unfocused, but Disney's Black Cauldron suffered from the same problem. Also there were some dark scenes, that young children would find upsetting, but the ending is very poignant. However the biggest flaw was the rather bland songs and the way they were sung. None of them in particular stick out, with exception of "Let's Make Music Together" and "Love Survives", and Burt Reynolds can't sing and Dom DeLuise has done much better singing. All in all, a watchable movie, that could have been more, but is definitely memorable, and I would definitely watch it again. 7/10. Bethany Cox

A luciously animated but unpleasant and inconsistent misfire from a fine animator.

[JTurner82 · 4/10 · 16 May 2007]

Around the late 1970's, animator Don Bluth, frustrated with the output his company, Disney was churning, defected from the Mouse House to form his own studio. His first production, THE SECRET OF NIMH, was a brilliant feature that still holds up well to this day. This was followed by AN American TAIL and THE LAND BEFORE TIME, both of which were made under the involvement of Steven Spielberg and were commercially successful. Although none of those two films had the dark adult appeal of NIMH, they still are very charming, enjoyable features for both children and grown-ups. But before long, Don Bluth had his first major misfire with ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN; critics were especially harsh on this film, and matters weren't helped by the fact that it opened alongside Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID.

Considering that the movie has such a friendly-sounding title, one would expect ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN to be pleasant family fare. Instead Bluth provides a surprisingly dark story involving gambling, deceit, crime, mistreatment, and murder. That itself is not a problem for an animated feature per say, but it does call into question over whether the film is for children. On the other hand, it's hard to say whether adults will find much to enjoy in ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN. In short, it's a movie with a major identity crisis.

Set in a dreary junkyard of New Orleans, the movie starts out when Charlie B. Barkin, a rough-and-tumble German shepherd, is run over by a car courtesy of his former gambling casino partner, a nasty, cigar-puffing pitbull, Carface. Before you know it, Charlie finds himself in heaven, albeit by default. Here a whippet angel, Annabelle, tells him that "all dogs go to heaven because unlike people, dogs are usually loyal and kind." This line represents the confused nature of the movie, since the dogs in the movie, the whippet aside, are presented as anything but.

Upon realizing that he's been murdered, Charlie steals his way back to Earth and plots to get even with Carface. With the reluctant help of his dachshund pal Itchy, Charlie "rescues" Carface's prize, AnneMarie, a human girl who can talk to animals (in order to predict who will win the rat races). Charlie claims that he will help the little cutie find her a family, but in reality he is using her skills to win fortunes at the race so that he can build a more elaborate casino of his own to bring Carface down. Although he refuses to admit it, Charlie does grow to love AnneMarie...

The concept of the story isn't as problematic as the execution. Aside from the human girl AnneMarie and a flamboyant musical alligator who appears about three-quarters through (with the vocal pipes of Ken Page), none of the other characters emerge as likable, nor frankly, are even worth caring about. Unfortunately, that also applies to Charlie; in trying to make him an anti-hero, the script (composed by more than ten writers) only succeeds in rendering the character TOO unlovable. As such, the audience feels no empathy for Charlie, and worse, his redemption at the end of the movie does not come across as convincing. (Further damaging to the character is the disappointingly uncharismatic vocal performance from Burt Reynolds.) Besides the lack of an endearing lead, the movie's other problem is in the structure of the story. The slowly-paced plot jumps all over the place and makes a habit of throwing in extra scenes which serve no purpose but to pad out the movie's running time. The aforementioned musical alligator (who resides in a danky sewer infested with native rats) seems to have been thrown in from nowhere, as does a scene where Charlie tries to show his generosity to AnneMarie by feeding a pack of pastel-colored pups pizza. The whole screenplay feels like a rough first draft; a bit more polish could have made this a tighter, impactful story.

Matters are not helped by the lackluster musical numbers by Charlie Strouse and T.J. Kuenster (AnneMarie's song and the gator's ballad are the only good ones; the latter in particular benefits from Ken Page's mellifluous vocal) or the uneven voice cast. As mentioned, Burt Reynolds' stiff and lifeless Charlie detracts from his already unlikeable character even further (the only exception is a fiery confession to Itchy about his true intentions toward the end). Dom DeLuise as Itchy is pretty good, but he's had better roles, notably Tiger in AN American TAIL and Jeremy in THE SECRET OF NIMH. Ken Page, as mentioned, is awesome in anything he does, but his character has such a small part that his overall contribution is unremarkable at best. Similarly wasted are Loni Anderson (as a collie who once sired a litter with Charlie), Melba Moore, and Charles Nelson Reilly. Judith Barsi as AnneMarie is probably the only voice that comes across as truly memorable, partially because her character is the sole legitimately likable one in this depressing and joyless show.

Barsi aside, the only real positive about ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN is the animation. Technically, this film has some of the most imaginative visuals from Bluth's team (by 1980's standards, that is), particularly a frightening scene where Charlie has a nightmare about ending up in a fiery underworld ruled by a gargantuan satanic canine-demon. If anything, the movie is more of a triumph of animation than storytelling.

On the whole, however, I cannot recommend ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN as good entertainment. Even though I recognize that the movie has its fans and the climax does admittingly provide some energy and a moving conclusion, the overall package is not in the same league as Bluth's better efforts. Animation buffs will marvel at the lush artistry, but by the time it's over, ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN could very well leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Brings back memories

[laciefrazee · 10/10 · 9 April 2004]

All dogs go to Heaven is one of the best movies I've ever seen. I first saw it when I was like 3. Now I'm 12 and I rented it, it makes me think of things and it brings back so many memories, those were "the days". I love the music, I love when Charlie is arriving in Heaven, I love the song "Let me be surprised". I love how Charlie looks and his voice, Bert Reynolds could only play Charlie's voice this great. I love this movie, the 1st one is the best one because it's so original and great. It really does bring back memories that no one can describe, not even me. If only I could go back to those days. I love the characters. If this is the way the memories come back when I'm 12 imagine how I'll feel when I'm like 19, I hope I'll be able to watch this when I'm older. When I first seen this I never knew that I would really look back on it and feel this way , I hope it will be available to watch. I'm so happy that this movie was made and the amazing idea came to mind and heart. On a scale from 1-10 I'd give it a perfect 10. It's an amazing movie. It's so hard to explain the feeling, when I get older and if I have kids, I hope they can experience this feeling.

Sumptuous, old school artwork has not dated as much as the rest

[oneloveall · 6/10 · 16 May 2007]

The classic animated tale from Don Bluth, the prodigious artist behind some of the 80's most enduring cartoons, continues in the tradition of quality with this release. Offering some of that same unique aesthetic which made his Secret of NIMH so appealing, Bluth takes this rowdy kids feature and blends it with dark atmospherics that help create the memorable surroundings where a criminal canine world is thriving.

The animation is obviously not as fluid as modern eyes are used to, though the painstakingly detailed, hand drawn backgrounds retain more charm then anything created by computer in the last 15 years. There is a certain warmth emitted from this style that hearkens back to a day when cartoons actually used to be pure, and had none of the compromising marketing techniques thrown in to gather wider audiences, as mega-budgeted cartoon franchises pander today.

The small but heartfelt supernatural story which explores the doggy afterlife of one street dog Charlie will remain a classic animated film for years to come. Overshadowed by some of his other work, Bluth still manages to prove why he is so highly respected in the business with nearly every concentrated frame. What does tarnish the film a bit however, is All Dogs Go to Heaven's insistence on breaking out into song every so often. The original music, and the voices who sing it (particualrly Burt Reynolds in the lead) are pretty awful, and noticeably sinks the film from being uniformly well received. The entire pacing may as well feel alien to young kids brought up on today's animated features, but for those willing to appreciate a time when hand drawn art was approached with more sensitivity in the American animated world, All Dogs Go to Heaven is a nostalgic treat.

Extremely unlikeable main character

[Vartiainen · 4/10 · 19 November 2016]

The fourth film directed by Don Bluth and considered by many to be the last of his "good ones". Personally I think the winning streak ends with Land Before Time.

So, there's this German Shepherd named Charlie, who's all-around scum. The dirt of the Earth. He treats ladies like crap, cons people out of their money, abuses the trust of his friends, probably kicks small puppies, the whole nine yards. We watch him break out of the joint with his pal Itchy – and isn't that a name to instantly win you over – and attempt to rejoin his partner in crime, Carface, who just happens to have decided that he's better off without him. I don't blame him. Charlie gets fed to the fishes and ends up in Heaven. Because all dogs go to heaven. Which seems extremely unfair to me. Because Charlie sure does not deserve such a right.

Long story short, Charlie figures out a way to return back to life, and proceeds to attempt bloody revenge on good old Carface. In the process we meet a poor orphaned girl named Anne-Marie, who promptly gets abused and used by our charming main character. And I know what you're thinking! Surely this is a story about Charlie learning the error of his way, mending all bridges and earning back his place in Heaven. And yeah, it's a film for children. Of course it has a happy ending. But it's so half-arsed, incompetent and tacked on that I'm not even sure it qualifies. Charlie is scum. Plain and simple. And I'm honestly a little insulted that I'm expected to root for him.

That being said, it is nicely animated. The voice acting is quality. The music works, although the song numbers don't exactly set the world on fire. And I've heard that most people actually find Charlie's eventual redemption charming and uplifting. Personally I have a hard time seeing exactly how, but reportedly it does happen more often than not.

So yeah, if Don Bluth is your thing, definitely give it a shot. Just don't expect miracles.

You can't see anything like that elsewhere

[Gozlukluimam · 15 May 2007]

This movie has been overlooked so much, it saddens me every time I see an empty review about it that fusses over tiny elements.

Yes, "All Dogs" is weird; There are dogs, orphans, corruption, murder, gambling, alcohol, afterlife, machine guns and a singing alligator, all mixed-up in the same movie. Yes, "All Dogs" has plot holes; Charlie can't talk to horses but can talk to alligators, the bad guy is allowed to enter heaven and the story is overall confusing.

So what?

This is one of the few movies that managed to make me "feel", in the true sense of the word. Have you ever been sad and hopeful at the same time? "All Dogs" made me feel that way. It makes me smile every time I watch it -without even knowing why-, and occasionally makes me cry. "All Dogs" has one of the most powerful endings I have ever seen in my life. The art is sublime; the characters' expressions, the backgrounds and special effects are astonishing. The symphonic and jazzy musics rolling in the background make whole with the 30's atmosphere. The dialogs are all fitting where they should belong. There are so many things to tell about this movie... I've noticed that many reviewers have been disturbed by the unusually dark tone spilled throughout the film. In real life, people are able to drink, gamble and/or kill. Don Bluth seems to be one of the few directors that takes children seriously, and present them the not-so-bright sides of life.

For those who are unsure about watching "All Dogs" or not because of some disturbing interpretations of the movie; Give it a try. You'll either hate it or love it to death, but one thing is sure: you won't be seeing anything like that in the near future. This is one of the strangely addicting movies that you love without knowing why (see also "Six-String Samurai" and "The Man Who Saves The World" to see what I mean).

Very funny and entertaining, a little scary too

[khael · 7/10 · 10 October 2005]

I'm 14 years old and I love this cartoon. Burt Reynolds and Dom Deluise make a great pair. This movie is really funny and I love the songs. My favorite songs are "You can't keep a good dog down" and that song about sharing, I think it's called "What's mine is yours". This was the last movie with Judith Barsi, who played the voice of Anne-Marie. My favorite character is Charlie but I find Itchy's voice is so fun to hear. Although some scenes I actually found scary, I still have a hard time watching the scene with Charlie's dream, and Carface scares the crap out of me. Other characters like King Gator I found really funny. The ending was adorable and was actually sad, made me cry a little. I give this movie 7/10.

It's not terrible but not that great either

[oonaheartsnonny96 · 7/10 · 23 October 2014]

I've seen this movie many times and for the most part, I'd just put it in the "Ok" pile. The only parts I remotely enjoy are the first and third acts. The second act is actually really boring to me. The first act is interesting because it establishes the villain and you actually get a taste of the "heaven" aspect, which is actually rather nice. The third act is where the climax of the movie is and you want to know what will happen to the main character. The second act does have a sort of light hearted element to it, but for the most part nothing exciting happens.

This is a film that I recommend for older viewers, with 12 being the absolute youngest age to be watching it. Mainly because of the villain and the sort of dark elements. The villain is one of the best villains ever simply because he managed to kill off a main character and is willing to make sure the main character stays dead. The dark elements, such as the Hell scene aren't TOO extreme, but children should still be cautious anyway. Overall, it's a decent flick for older kids who wouldn't mind having to sit through a bunch of boring scenes to get to the good parts.

Great movie! R.I.P. Judith Barsi!!!

[Animany94 · 8/10 · 25 August 2017]

I watched this movie mainly because I read on the net that it was Barsi's last film before her tragic death, but I discovered a heart-warming tale of friendship and love too! She really is the star in this tear-jerker movie. The movie itself isn't perfect, but is still better than people give it credit for.

The whole thing about heaven and sin was beautifully animated and sets up a rather deep spiritual side of the story about our main character, Charlie, a morally degenerated canine who learns some valuable lessons about friendship and caring. Charlie's rather initially meanspirited nature may turn some people off, and yes, his transformation is a little unevenly paced, but ends up being satisfactory.

The songs aren't especially memorable and to be honest, Burt Reynolds is an actor, not a singer. He and his sidekick, Itchy (Dom Deluise), do brilliant jobs, and in this movie Deluise wasn't over-the-top happy all the time. That was a delight. Carface is also a memorable and intimidating villain with a despicable agenda and matching voice of Vic Tayback. King Gator (Ken Page) was a little obnoxious, but very entertaining. But Judith Barsi is the shining star of All Dogs Go To Heaven. Her last movie, but she will always be Anne-Marie and Ducky.

All Dogs Go To Heaven is a recommendable animated movie with good valuable lessons in it. Maybe a little scary at times for the youngest viewers, but to hell with that! There's no harm done by showing kids movies with dark content as long as it has a purpose! And in my opinion, it has the most heart-warming ending in any Don Bluth movie!

It may not be his greatest movie due to a little confusing narrative, but it is really worth watching, both for you and your kids.

Not quite a classic, but it's decidedly good

[JakeBrinkman · 6/10 · 13 December 2019]

A slew of insults, jailbreak, gambling, drinking, smoking, betrayal, murder, revenge, kidnapping, pickpocketing, scamming, manipulation, ritual sacrifice, arson, and eternal damnation. This isn't a kid's movie by any traditional means.

Despite the mature themes, the movie does have a very positive message. All of the characters, even the cold-hearted dogs, still have their heartwarming moments. Parents probably shouldn't let their young kids watch it by themselves, but it's still worth watching it with them so you can guide their conclusions through this lighthearted introduction to evil and redemption.

Watching this movie in 2019, the animations haven't quite held up over time. Though the artwork was exceptional at capturing the dirty, evil, and terrifying aspects of the movie's world.

Rest In Peace, Judith Barsi.

[Movie-ManDan · 8/10 · 13 June 2020]

I have always been a big fan of Don Bluth's 1989 flick. Sure it's not as good as the slew of Disney films from around this time, but it is better than many family films from around this time. But after reading the life of one of its voice stars (child Judith Barsi), it increases the overall impact from before.

The only reason this classic isn't as big as some Disney flicks is because "All Dogs Go To Heaven" was released the same week as the best animated film (in my opinion) of the decade: Disney's masterpiece "The Little Mermaid." So of course "All Dogs" would come up short!

Taking place during the late days of the Great Depression, Charlie B. Barkin (Burt Reynolds) and Carface are two bad dogs who own casinos. Carface is a mob boss and Charlie is his partner, who the former is determined to squeeze out and keep their growing fortune for himself. The edginess of the film is pretty surprising for a G-rated family film. There's gambling, drinking, and smoking (Carface always has a cigar in his mouth). This isn't appropriate for kids! Luckily they don't exploit the adult content. This stuff is only in it so that older audiences don't feel patronized. Does that make this family film uneven? Some may find it uneven, but since it is all justified and not overdone I'm okay with it.

Carface has Charlie killed. (There's even animal homicide in this!) Automatically sent to heaven, Charlie escapes the enchanting afterlife to back to earth and avenge himself. Charlie and his best friend, Itchy (Dom Deluise) form a rival gambling company to drive Carface out of business. And with the help of an orphaned human and animal whisperer, Anne-Marie (Judith Barsi), they're sure to top the rival gangster. But can Charlie successfully go back to heaven when his time is truly up?

The subplot with Anne-Marie is predictable, but I mean that in a good way. It is so freakishly adorable and is bound to make your heart melt. But after reading the heartbreaking true story of the girl that voices Anne-Marie, the story of her orphaned character increases in terms of greatness and sadness. She had an abusive father whose rage to physical and emotional tolls on her and her mother. Just as the mother was calling for a divorce, he committed a murder-suicide. The final scene features Anne-Marie in her new parents' house where angel Charlie comes to her. Her final words recorded are "I love you." If only the real girl had a similar fate to her cartoon counterpart.

The whole movie is great, but it is the involvement of Judith Barsi that really gets to me now. This may not have as much of an emotional impact as an animated feature such as "Up" or "The Lion King," but what does? This is still an animated film the whole family can enjoy no matter what age.

3.5/4

And the angels sang

[alphahumphrey-54847 · 7/10 · 15 September 2019]

Not an 1980's cartoon for everyone. 1940's style Looney Tunes animation meets new technology. The end fits very well with so many VA's in the movie now gone.

As a kid - yes! As an adult - what?!

[Calicodreamin · 5/10 · 12 June 2020]

As a kid this was definitely a classic. Watching as an adult I was a bit taken aback by the crazy storyline. It's seriously all over the place, I can't even describe what half of it was supposed to mean. But still, you can't help but love Charlie.

Nothing warms the heart like a cold nose

[humerous_burps · 9/10 · 26 October 2006]

I can remember this movie from when i was a small child, i loved it then and I still do now. I managed to get it on DVD for my 18th Birthday and was over joyed because I had found it so difficult to find it previously and it had only be rented when i was younger. My favourite character is Charlie because he learns to be a good dog. The movie is filled with fun songs and music. The animation is brilliant and the character voices are perfect. This movie has always been a tearjerker for me but i think that if i hadn't seen the movie when i was small then i would not find it as brilliant and fascinating as I do although I still believe that I would still like it because I am Really into animated movies.

A sweet, but genuinely bizarre children's film.

[TOMNEL · 7/10 · 3 May 2008]

All Dog's Go to Heaven is an animated kid's movie like no other. Gambling, drinking, death, guns and Hell are all prominent in the plot, and though kids will get very little of it, adults will be scratching their heads as to why this movie was made to feel like some sort of gangster movie. The actual movie isn't explicit in any way, it's just an odd combination to make a kid's movie on.

Charlie Barkin (Burt Reynolds) is a player dog, who owns half a casino with his partner Carface (Vic Tayback). After getting drunk (A dog....getting drunk...in a kid's movie. It just sounds weird.), Charlie is tricked and murdered by Carfax. When in heaven, he finds a way to come back to Earth, but he will no longer be allowed in Heaven. He still goes back to Earth and meets up with his old friend Itchy (Dom Deluise), and plans payback on Carfax. Meanwhile, Carfax has a little orphan girl Anne Marie held captive because of her amazing ability to talk to all species of animals, which helps predict races. Charlie and Itchy free her, and try to help her find a family, while learning a lot about themselves.

This movie is one of the few non-Disney that will appeal to both kids and adults. Kids will enjoy the funny characters and lively animation, while adults will enjoy the nice, sweet plot, and the more than normal developed characters. One thing that keeps this down, is that it's a musical. Normally, that's a good thing, but the music here is honestly terrible. They tend to jump around, almost sounding ad libbed, with next to no instrumental backing. In fact, these are probably the worst songs I've ever heard in an animated movie, but luckily, the rest of the film is strong enough to not fall apart because of some bad notes.

The ending of this movie works, but I honestly hate it. It's sad, but happy, but more sad than happy, and makes the movie feel like it needs a sequel. Considering how bad the sequel made to this was, I wish the ending wouldn't have warranted a sequel and it would've wrapped up into a nice, super happy ending. This is one of the few movies I feel this way about, but I do.

Overall, this is a nice family film, with odd themes thrown in, but nonetheless, good entertainment.

My rating: *** out of ****. 85 mins. G.

Well, there's ONE good thing about it...

[mig28lx · 5/10 · 12 September 2000]

I don't know if this is a little harsh or not...actually, it probably is...but I think the story people working on "All Dogs..." should have taken a few more story-development courses. As another user points out, there is a howling continuity error: the dogs cannot understand other animals, but Charlie the German shepherd sings a duet with the alligator. The songs are outstandingly forgettable. The ending seems hastily written and tacked-on, as if the writers forgot the title of the movie. The editing and transitions are abrupt and look like a bad television version of a cartoon; I was mentally devising where a commercial would go when I watched it the first time.

On the upside, you've got a bizarre sequence where Charlie actually seems to visit hell; not many animated features have done that before. And...well, I guess that's about it for recommendations. This film should be good for kids aged 8-13. That's a narrow target audience, but, hey, make a narrow movie, and that's what you get. Sorry, guys, gotta tell it like it is.