BEFORE: This animated film came out in 1989, at the time I was busy trying to graduate from college, and I didn't have much time for watching movies. I missed a year or two of TV for the same reason. And while I studied a bit of animation in school, I didn't know at the time I'd end up working in that field - so I wasn't really paying attention to the kiddie films being released at the time.
THE PLOT: A dog returns from the dead looking for revenge on his killer using an orphan girl who can talk to animals.
AFTER: This was directed by Don Bluth, who used to be a Disney animator, but got frustrated with the House of Mouse in the early 80's (didn't we all?) so he struck out on his own. While I admire the intent, he might have peaked with "An American Tail" in 1986 - though some would say he peaked with "Anastasia" in 1997, and still others would say he peaked with the "Dragon's Lair" video game. Discuss.
I wasn't really overwhelmed by this one, it rambles a little bit with its depictions of the stray dog underworld, complete with rat races and meat slot machines. It's an attempt to make the stray lifestyle seem appealing, in a "Lady and the Tramp" kind of way, but doesn't really pay off. Mix in bits of "Heaven Can Wait" with a dash of "The Sting", and...well, it still doesn't help that much.
Charlie is a dog con man, which is a great idea for a character - and he's got a soft side, helping out orphaned pups when he has the time. But he's still motivated by money (a bit odd for a dog...) and by revenge. I'm sort of wondering whether this was a screenplay for human characters that got shoehorned into a kiddie film.
Charlie rescues a little orphaned girl who can speak to animals, who was being used by a dog to handicap rat races (I guess cats can't speak to mice?). I read the biography of the young actress who voiced the little girl, and wow, it's pretty depressing. She was a cute kid who had TV roles on shows like "The Fall Guy" and "Trapper John, M.D.", but had an abusive father and, well, it didn't end well for her. Let's hope all child actors go to heaven.
I'm not going to use this space to debate the existence of heaven or the merits of religion, that's a topic for another day. It's used here as a story device, so it serves a purpose. Again, the buy-in is high tonight, you've got to believe that dogs can talk, gamble, and sing - and can con their way into (and back out of) heaven. Make of that what you will.
Oh, and Jennifer Aniston from "Marley & Me" was in "Rock Star" with Mark Wahlberg, who was in "Boogie Nights" with Burt Reynolds.
Starring the voices of Burt Reynolds (last seen in "City Heat"), Dom Deluise (last heard in "The Secret of NIMH 2", also directed by Bluth), Charles Nelson Reilly (last heard in "Tom & Jerry in Shiver Me Whiskers) and Loni Anderson (last seen in "A Night at the Roxbury").
RATING: 3 out of 10 junkyard cars
Michael Jackson had Bubbles the Chimp. Burt Reynolds had Dom Deluise. His toy, his pet, his fashion accessory.
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps he kept him nearby for sensible tactical reasons. If you keep Dom Deluise next to you at all times, how can you help but look like you have hair, are in great physical shape, and are the Voice of Authority and Reason?
Let's also give Bluth full and thorough appreciation for Princess Daphne:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKuMOoXJe6Y