Coincidentally, I watched 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' this weekend with my grandkids. I remembered it from when my own kids were little, and wanted something better for movie night than the CG drek that Disney and Netflix Kids crank out these days. The grands loved it. I did have to stop and explain the theology a few times. The premise is absurd, but no more than regular mainstream heaven mythology, especially as portrayed in movies.
Like some other films from Bluth studios, I find the animation overwrought and frantic, especially the action sequences, which are almost unwatchable. What makes the film great is the banter between the heart-of-gold gangster Charlie Barker (Burt Reynolds) and the supporting characters like Itcher Ford (Dom DeLuise), Flo (Loni Anderson), and the angel (Melba Moore). A favorite line: "You have natural rhythm, unusual in a whippet." The final scene where Charlie visits Earth one last time as a ghost is a real cartoon tear-jerker.
I had forgotten that the utterly evil and irredeemable villain Carface (Vic Tayback) arrives in dog heaven as well, true to the film's title.
I never actually saw the movie. Not sure why. I guess I was disappointed when I found out it wasn't a documentary. I should watch it with my grandkids next time I'm in Colorado.
Coincidentally, I watched 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' this weekend with my grandkids. I remembered it from when my own kids were little, and wanted something better for movie night than the CG drek that Disney and Netflix Kids crank out these days. The grands loved it. I did have to stop and explain the theology a few times. The premise is absurd, but no more than regular mainstream heaven mythology, especially as portrayed in movies.
Like some other films from Bluth studios, I find the animation overwrought and frantic, especially the action sequences, which are almost unwatchable. What makes the film great is the banter between the heart-of-gold gangster Charlie Barker (Burt Reynolds) and the supporting characters like Itcher Ford (Dom DeLuise), Flo (Loni Anderson), and the angel (Melba Moore). A favorite line: "You have natural rhythm, unusual in a whippet." The final scene where Charlie visits Earth one last time as a ghost is a real cartoon tear-jerker.
I had forgotten that the utterly evil and irredeemable villain Carface (Vic Tayback) arrives in dog heaven as well, true to the film's title.
I never actually saw the movie. Not sure why. I guess I was disappointed when I found out it wasn't a documentary. I should watch it with my grandkids next time I'm in Colorado.