Film Review – Charlie the Wonderdog

Superhero cinema goes to the dogs once again. No, it’s not an “Underdog” reboot, but “Charlie the Wonderdog” isn’t exactly trying be something radically different when it comes to the concept of a canine with special powers determined to help others in peril. The animated picture is directed and co-written by Shae Wageman, who aims to deliver a high-flying adventure comedy for family audiences, and one that adheres closely to comic book-style ideas of heroism and supervillainy, stretched out some by cartoonish extremes. “Charlie the Wonderdog” has the right idea for a good time with wacky characters and action beats, but the feature struggles with momentum and storytelling issues, as Wageman overstuffs the script with too much plot and payoff, making the endeavor play too heavy when it desires to be a livelier understanding of companionship and heroic duty. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com