The animation
isn’t the smoothest, the voice acting isn’t perfect, and the plot has more
holes than you can count. Yet, when you put it all together, All Dogs Go to
Heaven is a classic animation from the ’80s.
This is one of
those childhood adventures I watched over and over again because there’s
something about the story and the music that makes me nostalgic and keeps me
hooked. The voice of the girl Anne-Marie was performed by the late Judith
Barsi, in what would tragically be her final role—she passed away at just ten
years old, a year before the film was released.
It’s clear this
animation doesn’t have the magical Disney touch that defined the ’80s. While it
has earned its place as a cult classic from the era, it doesn’t quite measure
up to many of the Disney animations of the time.
All Dogs Go to
Heaven tells the story of a German Shepherd named Charlie. In this world, dogs
have their own underground society, running things independently of humans.
While the human world exists, animals and humans can’t communicate with one
another.
Charlie is busted out of the pound by his best friend Itchy, a scrappy Dachshund. Together, they return to the casino Charlie co-owns with Carface, a shady mixed Pit Bull. Surprised by Charlie’s release, Carface doesn’t want to share the casino any more and begins plotting to get rid of him.
This leads to
Charlie being murdered. He ends up in heaven, where he learns that all dogs go
to heaven. But Charlie, ever the con artist, discovers a way to return to
Earth. Ignoring warnings that doing so will prevent him from ever coming back,
he seizes the opportunity.
Charlie knows a
secret about Carface and plans to use it to exact revenge for the betrayal.
Returning from the dead is a shock for Itchy, but after coming to terms with
it, the duo breaks into Carface’s home. There, they discover Anne-Marie, a
little girl who can talk to animals. Charlie and Itchy lure her away with
promises to help her fulfill her dreams if she helps them achieve
theirs—chiefly, Charlie’s revenge on Carface.
The movie
unfolds as Charlie’s plan intertwines with his growing sense of responsibility
toward Anne-Marie.
Though All Dogs
Go to Heaven wasn’t a critical success upon release, it was a commercial hit.
It spawned a sequel and a television series, cementing its place in animation
history. It’s still a fun movie for kids, with some lessons about
responsibility woven into the story.
0 comments:
Post a Comment