Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
When a casino-owning dog named Charlie is murdered by his rival Carface, he finds himself in Heaven. Wanting to get back at his killer, he cons his way back to the living with the warning that doing so damns him to Hell. Once back, he teams with his old partner, Itchy, to prep his retaliation. He stumbles upon an orphan girl who can talk to the animals, thus allowing him to get the inside info on the races to ensure his wins to finance his plans. However, all the while, he is still haunted by nightmares of what's waiting for him on the other side unless he can prove that he is worthy of Heaven again.
All Dogs Go to Heaven is a Don Bluth production with an unusually dark and morally complex premise for a family animated film — a gambling, scheming dog who cons his way back from Heaven. The plot is reasonably engaging with its redemption arc and good-vs-evil dynamics, though it's unevenly paced and the orphan-girl subplot feels somewhat conventional. Voice acting is competent with Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise providing charm, though performances are inconsistent. The cinematography/animation is serviceable Bluth-era work with some vivid nightmare sequences, but lacks the polish of his best work like The Secret of NIMH. Novelty is above average for its willingness to tackle death, damnation, and moral ambiguity in an animated children's film — genuinely unusual territory. The ending delivers an emotionally satisfying redemption conclusion that earns its sentiment, though it follows a predictable trajectory once Charlie's arc becomes clear.