I have always been a big fan of Don Bluth's 1989 flick. Sure it's not as good as the slew of Disney films from around this time, but it is better than many family films from around this time. But after reading the life of one of its voice stars (child Judith Barsi), it increases the overall impact from before.

The only reason this classic isn't as big as some Disney flicks is because "All Dogs Go To Heaven" was released the same week as the best animated film (in my opinion) of the decade: Disney's masterpiece "The Little Mermaid." So of course "All Dogs" would come up short!

Taking place during the late days of the Great Depression, Charlie B. Barkin (Burt Reynolds) and Carface are two bad dogs who own casinos. Carface is a mob boss and Charlie is his partner, who the former is determined to squeeze out and keep their growing fortune for himself. The edginess of the film is pretty surprising for a G-rated family film. There's gambling, drinking, and smoking (Carface always has a cigar in his mouth). This isn't appropriate for kids! Luckily they don't exploit the adult content. This stuff is only in it so that older audiences don't feel patronized. Does that make this family film uneven? Some may find it uneven, but since it is all justified and not overdone I'm okay with it.

Carface has Charlie killed. (There's even animal homicide in this!) Automatically sent to heaven, Charlie escapes the enchanting afterlife to back to earth and avenge himself. Charlie and his best friend, Itchy (Dom Deluise) form a rival gambling company to drive Carface out of business. And with the help of an orphaned human and animal whisperer, Anne-Marie (Judith Barsi), they're sure to top the rival gangster. But can Charlie successfully go back to heaven when his time is truly up?

The subplot with Anne-Marie is predictable, but I mean that in a good way. It is so freakishly adorable and is bound to make your heart melt. But after reading the heartbreaking true story of the girl that voices Anne-Marie, the story of her orphaned character increases in terms of greatness and sadness. She had an abusive father whose rage to physical and emotional tolls on her and her mother. Just as the mother was calling for a divorce, he committed a murder-suicide. The final scene features Anne-Marie in her new parents' house where angel Charlie comes to her. Her final words recorded are "I love you." If only the real girl had a similar fate to her cartoon counterpart.

The whole movie is great, but it is the involvement of Judith Barsi that really gets to me now. This may not have as much of an emotional impact as an animated feature such as "Up" or "The Lion King," but what does? This is still an animated film the whole family can enjoy no matter what age.

3.5/4