From Deseret News archives:
All Dogs Go to Heaven 2
Film review
According to "All Dogs Go to Heaven 2," all dogs don't go to heaven. And the devil (or one of his minions, anyway) is a cat.
I'm not sure how "Garfield" fans are going to take that last item of information, but this sequel to Don Bluth's "All Dogs Go to Heaven" is merely an OK entry in the pantheon of lower-level non-Disney animated features. And this time, Bluth is not involved.
The first "All Dogs" was gorgeously animated, which made up somewhat for its so-so Damon Runyanesque yarn that portrayed dogs as gamblers, gangsters and bums. That film had German shepherd Charlie being killed, going to heaven and then returning to Earth to get revenge, subverted by a sentimental ending, of course.
The animation for this sequel isn't nearly as striking, however, and the story isn't strong enough to make up for it. The central character is again con artist Charlie (voiced by Charlie Sheen instead of Burt Reynolds this time; with the forgettable songs performed by Jesse Corti).
As "All Dogs 2" opens, Charlie is residing in heaven and finds himself bored to death, so to speak. So, he takes an opportunity to return to Earth to retrieve Gabriel's horn and finds himself paired with his old pal Itchy (Dom DeLuise, reprising his voice role), as they again go up against evil Carface (Ernest Borgnine, replacing the late Vic Tayback). But this time, Carface has a friend the devilish feline Red (George Hearn).
Sheena Easton provides the voice of Sasha, Charlie's romantic interest, and together they help a young boy (Adam Wylie) who has run away from home.
The film steals liberally from other sources ("Damn Yankees," the "Night on Bald Mountain" sequence from "Fantasia," "The Horn Blows at Midnight"), and for adults there are cultural references to old movies and even David Letterman's "Stupid Pet Tricks." For kids there are burping jokes and one-liners on the order of, "There'll be heaven to pay!"
"All Dogs Go to Heaven 2" isn't nearly as entertaining as the current Disney re-release "Oliver & Company." And, ironically, the first "All Dogs Go to Heaven" also opened day-and-date with a Disney picture in the fall of 1989 "The Little Mermaid."
Apparently, however, at that time there was room in the marketplace for two animated features to be successful, and both "Mermaid" and "All Dogs" went on to become solid box-office winners though "Mermaid" was, of course, the bigger hit.
These days, however, a Disney animated feature doesn't just mean competition. It means box-office domination.
Anyone remember the fate of "The Swan Princess" when it opened against the reissue of "The Lion King" after the latter had been pulled from theaters for a few weeks?
It will be interesting to see how this one fares against the reissue of "Oliver & Company."
"All Dogs 2" is rated G.
Recent comments
All Dogs Go To Heaven came out the same year The Hunchback Of Notre...
Anonymous | April 21, 2008 at 11:23 a.m.
Itchy's Voice looks identical to Tiger In An American Tail and An...
Anonymous | March 14, 2008 at 11:20 a.m.
It is a good movie, but can scare little kids. Carface is
the bad...
Sydney | Aug. 15, 2000 at 3:37 p.m.
Cast: Charlie Sheen, Sheena Easton, Ernest Borgnine, Dom Deluise, George Hearn
Find a Movie Theater
- TCU wraps up 12-0 season 2:51 p.m.
- 911 tapes of Woods' crash on Sun. 2:49 p.m.
- Orlando forward Matt Barnes fined 2:26 p.m.
- Black Friday store spending up 2:13 p.m.
- Man dies in dirt bike crash 2:06 p.m.
- Gamecocks top No. 15 Clemson 1:51 p.m.
- A naturally 'green' Christmas 1:42 p.m.
- AP: Iverson retirement may be brief 1:26 p.m.
- Case made for strong Fed role 1:15 p.m.
- Vonn fails to qualify for 2nd run 1:00 p.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Rivalry Week is highly profane
- Efforts to save a life praised
- BYU's old uniforms?
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
271 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
134 - Boys basketball rankings
132 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
111 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
110 - Letters: Trump card for believers
98 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
76
We've watched you all your TV life and are thrilled you won, besides you are...
could not have said it better myself. also jerry after this year please retire.
he should have had the guts to follow his dreams. even though he'll never...
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Jones family. Losing a loved one,...
What bunch of sourpusses. Your sarcasm and scolding tell us more about you...
Jay, look at your calendar. It's November, not April. That letter was the...
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. - Thomas Jefferson
I'm only surprised he didn't sue the police for more money. I've seen the...
I have very little confidence in turning over the the regulation of our...
Brad: 1. Anyone who doesn't want to go to Mobile for a visit has never...



