All Dogs Go To Heaven Review

 

One of the earliest and well-known Don Bluth films, All Dogs Go To Heaven tells a redemption story of a con artist who opens up his heart to better an orphan girl’s life: but instead of a primarily human cast, we have talking animals! Quirky in the premise and heartwarming in the execution, will the tale of canines getting a second chance at life end how we think it does?

 

Things start off (in 1939, surprisingly) as we meet Charlie (Burt Reynolds) and Itchy (Dom Deluise), two dog criminals escaping prison. They return to the casino they used to run (rat races primarily) with Carface, who actually framed Charlie for death row, unbeknownst to them.  Carface convinces Charlie that he needs to get out of town with his share of the casino’s profits, but arranges his death, made to look like an accident by his minion, Killer, during Mardi Gras.

 

Charlie is shocked to find himself in heaven with an angel dog (called Annabelle in the sequels, Whippet Angel here) who reveals that all dogs end up here because of their good nature (hard to believe, considering most dogs gamble and steal), Charlie hating that things are so predictable. Restarting the watch in heaven symbolizing his life, Charlie is thrust back to earth, told he can never return

 

Itchy panics at first, still mourning, Charlie convincing him he’s alive by showing his fleas. The con-dog plans to get revenge on Carface, though Itchy says it’s too dangerous.

 

The pair discover the “monster Carface is feeding is an orphan girl named Anne-Marie who can talk to animals, letting Carface stack the rat race odds. Charlie, wanting to exploit her for his own gains, “rescues” her, Itchy still objecting.

 

Anne-Marie is excited when she hears they’ll be meeting horses at the race track and thanks God in her prayers, also asking for parents, before going to bed, Charlie tolerating her innocence.

 

The next day, as Charlie pushes her into talking, Anne-Marie thinks he’s no different than Carface. She changes her mind when he says they’ll share the money with the poor, as well as help her get adopted with new clothes. After learning who will win the race, the group steals some betting money from a couple that Anne-Marie thinks would be great parents, Itchy distracting them with a fake injury.

 

The three place the bet in an obvious disguise and win big, continuing this trend with other animal races (frogs and turtles) and kangaroo fights. Charlie recognizes Anne-Marie’s feeling left out, buying her nice dresses. Afterwards, they put together a casino made of junkyard stuff to compete with Carface. But Anne-Marie is frustrated, since they haven’t helped the poor or even looked for parents to adopt her. Charle placates her, saying he’s “seen the light”, clearly still lying

 

Carface, after learning that Charlie’s alive, nearly throws Killer into a piranha pit, but his cohort reveals he has a gun that they can kill Charlie with

 

Charlie delivers pizza to a church where a group of poor puppies are taken care of by a Collie named Flo. He sings a song about how good sharing is (suggesting that maybe dogs are good-natured at heart?)

 

Anne-Marie, asking about the wallet that Charlie has, realizes it was stolen. She goes up to the church attic, singing a song about wanting to have parents (sung by the same person who did Twinkle’s song in Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night). Charlie has a nightmare about going to dog hell, waking up to realize that Anne-Marie left to return the wallet.

 

At the couple’s home, Anne-Marie is treated to breakfast, asked about her living situation. As they discuss what to do, Charlie talks to Anne-Marie, saying goodbye, though she follows him into town.

 

Carface and Killer narrowly miss Charlie with the gun as he flees with Anne-Marie in tow.

 

The pair falls into a cavern and are taken away by savage rat servants of King Gator, who lives in the sewers. Thankfully, Charlie’s “singing voice” convinces the regal reptile to not eat him and sing a tune about their shared “talents”.

 

But Anne-Marie, sick from exposure to the dirty water, convalesces in the church, though Itchy, beat up by Carface and his goons, reveals their casino has been destroyed. He says the only reason he stuck with Charlie is their friendship, Anne-Marie a major risk overall.

 

Charlie, furious at Itchy accusing him of being soft, reveals how he’s just been manipulating Anne-Marie, who hears it all, running away and getting captured by Carface. Itchy takes her doll to the family, while Charlie goes to rescue Anne-Marie.

 

Carface sends his posse at Charlie, Anne-Marie in a cage over the piranha pit, while Itchy, with the help of local dogs, gets to Kate and Harold’s house, where (in Disney’s 101 Dalmatians fashion) they pull the humans in the right direction

 

As Charlie is getting tied to an anchor, he howls, drawing King Gator’s attention, the croc charging in, freeing his friend and breaking Anne-Marie’s cage

 

But as Charlie and Carface fight, they start a fire and the watch is nearly submerged. As he pulls Anne-Marie from the depths, he’s forced to choose between the two as the watch falls into the water. He decides to save Anne-Marie, costing him his life, while Carface is chased off by King Gator

 

Anne-Marie is saved and Charlie, fleeing from the “dog Satan” we saw in his dream, apologizes to her. A blue orb disperses the red hell aura, Annabelle revealing that Charlie’s sacrifice for the orphan means he can return to heaven. Charlie says his final goodbyes to Anne-Marie, telling her to take care of Itchy, rising into heaven as the film concludes by showing us Carface was eaten by the croc, turning back his own clock and returning to earth.

 

Our main characters are Charlie and Anne-Marie, Itchy the support (and sometimes comic relief), while Carface and Killer serve as the antagonists. There are some other characters of note, though they’re mostly for narrative progression and don’t have much personality of their own, flat compared to the others, like King Gator, Flo and the kids

 

Charlie has the major arc, initially self-serving, treating Itchy terribly and willing to exploit an orphan girl but becoming kind-hearted with Anne-Marie’s influence.

 

Anne Marie is the ethical compass that centers Charlie and is the ultimate reason for his change, not just a damsel in distress, but a saintly figure practically, having some agency of her own too.

 

Itchy is pretty much the bumbling sidekick, who eventually comes around in the end, serving as Charlie’s “replacement,”

 

Carface is the devilish villain, while Killer is more his bumbling sidekick (voiced by Charles Nelson Reilly, who did Hunch and Llort as well) going along with his boss’ demands

 

The theme of generosity and kindness, even self-sacrifice for others, is what you’re meant to draw from the story and it’s done well with Charlie’s growth into a dog worthy of the stereotypes

All in all, this is a fine film that’s aged well in the message and tells a great redemption story of a morally gray protagonist, something that, while clichéd if done poorly, is not only presented well, but has a fun twist in the talking animal subgenre. Check this out, and we’ll see how good or bad the sequel is eventually