All Dogs Go to Heaven [P&S]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

One of the most expensive of Don Bluth's animated cartoon features, All Dogs Go to Heaven was also among the most successful. Set in late-'30s New Orleans, the story centers upon a roguish German shepherd named Charlie B. Barkin (voice of Burt Reynolds), who is killed early in the proceedings by his business partner, Carface (voice of Vic Tayback). Charlie travels to Heaven, and is promptly warned that if he heads back to Earth, he can never return; he does decide to go back to Earth, however, to exact revenge on Carface, who has kidnapped Anne-Marie, a little orphan girl who can talk to Animals. The film also includes the vocal skills of Dom DeLuise, Charles Nelson Reilly, Vic Tayback, Melba Moore, Loni Anderson, and a host of others. All Dogs Go to Heaven was the first production of the Dublin-based Sullivan Bluth Studios. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: 5.1, PCM Stereo
• Screen: Pan and Scan
• Subtitle: French, Spanish
• Features:
  • • Original theatrical trailer

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, Dan Kuenster

• Screen Story:

  Monica Parker

• Screenwriter:

  Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, Larry Leker

• Screen Story:

  Linda Miller

• Screenwriter:

  Linda Miller, John Pomeroy, David Steinberg, David N. Weiss

• Composer (Music Score):

  Ralph Burns, Charles Strouse

• Editor:

  John K. Carr

• Production Designer:

  Don Bluth, Larry Leker

• Co-producer:

  Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, John Pomeroy

• Executive Producer:

  Morris F. Sullivan

• Foley Artist:

  Kevin Bartnof

• Short Story Author:

  Ken Cromar

REVIEW:

• Animated films by director Don Bluth tend to be somewhat frustrating. There's always so much in them that is right that the inevitable flaws are especially galling -- particularly because Bluth and his crew seem to do the hardest things so well and slip up in seemingly easier areas. All Dogs Go to Heaven is one of Bluth's weaker efforts, but it does feature some exceptional animation. Bluth and his animators have created an avalanche of color, a full rendering of the palette that is often gorgeous. And the character animation itself is very good -- precise, detailed, and evocative. Also worthy of praise is Charles Strouse's score; while not a classic, it is extremely catchy. "Let's Make Music Together" is particularly good and is presented in a faux-Esther Williams style that is entirely winning. Unfortunately, these pluses are offset by an unruly and predictable script and characters that range from unpleasant to uninteresting. The dialogue is weak, with strained humor (e.g. "Some of the poorest people I know are as broke as the Ten Commandments."). And, as is often the case with Bluth, the film is too deliberately paced -- even the action sequences come across as slightly by the book rather than spontaneous. Although children will find Dogs reasonably entertaining, adults may find themselves checking their watches a lot. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi