All Dogs Go to Heaven/All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 [2 Discs] DVD

All Dogs Go to Heaven
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, All Movie Guide

All Dogs Go to Heaven 2
In this tuneful animated sequel, that angelic ol' dog Charlie Barkin returns to create chaos in heaven and on earth. The trouble begins when Charlie gets bored with the peaceful bliss of life in doggy heaven and begins dreaming of returning to Earth. Even the arrival of his former best pal Itchy does little to cheer him up. Then the wicked Carface steals Gabriel's horn and in the struggle it falls into San Francisco. Charlie and Itchy jump at the chance to retrieve the holy horn. Once back on Earth, the two have many adventures and get entangled with a sexy Irish setter a kindly boy and a wicked cat with a nefarious scheme. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Cast Burt Reynolds as Charlie Judith Barsi as Anne-Marie Dom DeLuise as Itchy Vic Tayback as Carface Charles Nelson Reilly as Killer Melba Moore as Whippet Angel Candy Devine as Vera Ken Page as King Gator Loni Anderson as Flo Charlie Sheen as Charlie Sheena Easton as Sasha La Fleur Dom DeLuise as Itchy Itchiford Ernest Borgnine as Carface George Hearn as Red Bebe Neuwirth as Anabelle

Crew Deane Taylor - Art Director Maria Estrada - Casting Larry Leker - Director Paul Sabella - Director Tony Garber - Editor Thomas V. Moss - Editor Mark Watters - Composer (Music Score) Cynthia Weil - Songwriter Barry Mann - Songwriter Mark Watters - Songwriter Kelly Ward - Producer Mark Young - Producer Jonathan Dern - Producer Paul Sabella - Producer Michael Bradley - Supervisor/Manager Mark Young - Screenwriter Arne Olsen - Screenwriter Kelly Ward - Screenwriter Deane Taylor - Art Director Maria Estrada - Casting Larry Leker - Director Paul Sabella - Director Tony Garber - Editor Thomas V. Moss - Editor Mark Watters - Composer (Music Score) Cynthia Weil - Songwriter Barry Mann - Songwriter Mark Watters - Songwriter Kelly Ward - Producer Mark Young - Producer Jonathan Dern - Producer Paul Sabella - Producer Michael Bradley - Supervisor/Manager Mark Young - Screenwriter Arne Olsen - Screenwriter Kelly Ward - Screenwriter

All Dogs Go to Heaven
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, All Movie Guide
 

All Dogs Go to Heaven 2
The original All Dogs Go to Heaven didn't really cry out for a sequel, and that's a primary flaw with part two: there's no good reason for it to exist. Given that considerable obstacle, it's surprising that the film actually is moderately entertaining. It benefits from the fact that the character change in Charlie brought about by his growing relationship with the little boy is pretty well done, as well as from the fact that the catchy Barry Mann-Cynthia Weil score is always above average and occasionally -- as in the slinky "Count Me Out" -- quite good. In addition, there's some fine voice work from Dom DeLuise, George Hearn, and Ernest Borgnine, and effective warbling from Sheena Easton. Charlie Sheen's overall characterization is not as distinctively engaging as it needs to be, but he does have some nice moments with Adam Wylie. Although there are some nice backgrounds (especially the oil paintings created for some of the San Francisco locales), the animation is unimpressive and generally lifeless. Paul Sabella and Larry Leker's direction emphasizes fast pacing, which keeps things moving, but which also prevents development of character and plot; however, given that the script is wildly overplotted, this at least keeps the film to a trim 82 minutes. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French, Spanish Subtitle Options: French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: cc All Dogs Go to Heaven: Original theatrical trailer English Stereo Surround French Stereo Surround French & Spanish subtitles All Dogs Go to Heaven 2: Original theatrical trailer English 5.1 Surround French Stereo Surround Spanish Stereo Surround French & Spanish subtitles DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: G DVD Discs Included: 2 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 168 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- All Dogs Go to Heaven 1. Logos/"Rat Race" [:09] 2. You Can't Keep a Good Dog Down [5:09] 3. Carface & Charlie [3:21] 4. Let Me Be Surprised [5:44] 5. "I'm Not a Ghost!" [5:14] 6. Saving Anne-Marie [4:08] 7. Bedtime Story [5:10] 8. "Grand Chawhee to Win" [8:59] 9. "Jackpot!" [2:50] 10. What's Mine Is Yours [3:13] 11. Soon You'll Come Home [5:27] 12. "Don't Worry About Me" [5:11] 13. Let's Make Music Together [2:59] 14. "Bad Dog!" [5:29] 15. To the Rescue! [5:41] 16. Heavenly Dog/Credits [5:12] Side #2 -- All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 1. Credits/Reunited! [:09] 2. It's Too Heavenly Here [6:50] 3. "Gabriel's Horn" [4:23] 4. Dog Singing [5:08] 5. "Back in the Flesh" [6:31] 6. It Feels So Good to Be Bad [4:52] 7. "My Guardian Angel!" [3:44] 8. A Devilish Joint [7:27] 9. "Mission Accomplished" [3:27] 10. On Easy Street [7:27] 11. I Will Always Be With You [4:34] 12. A Deal With the Devil [5:12] 13. Scat, Cat! [4:48] 14. "A Second Chance!" [6:56] 15. "We're a Family!" [3:06] 16. End Credits [2:05]