All Dogs Go to Heaven

Having Burt Reynolds sing wasn't the only unfortunate move director Don Bluth made in "All Dogs." The worst, by far, was coming up with a story that 5-year-olds will find scary and impenetrable.

This darkness seem to work against the lightweight nature of the story. I don't think Bluth intended this to be as gloomy a movie as his earlier The Secret of NIMH.

Emotional punch, memorable character design and animation, a richly detailed narrative, a delightfully shadowy visual sense and sharp cultural perceptions -- all distinguish All Dogs Go to Heaven, the Don Bluth team's best all-around achievement.

Disney's adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid puts up a respectable fight. But in the end, better attention to detail, pacing of the story and use of voice talent tip the scales in Bluth's favor.

The plot meanders and chases its own tail without ever establishing coherent characters.

In "All Dogs Go to Heaven," the possible is the mundane.

What kills the movie is its poorly imagined plot. Ann Marie's hapless situation has been made up entirely so Charlie can become a hero -- and there's no chemistry between them.

It's hard to tell just who Don Bluth and company had in mind with this wayward animated feature. It manages to violate just about every rule of family films, beginning with its essential cynicism.

While not the triumph The Little Mermaid is, All Dogs Go to Heaven has much to recommend it. The film is a visual delight.

Aside from the songs it's pretty well done, but it's not in a class with An American Tail.