CHARLIE THE WONDERDOG

This one earns its heart. Charlie the Wonderdog is a fast, funny superhero cartoon that sneaks up on you emotionally — a genuinely committed voice cast, solid animation, and a message about heroism that has more substance than the premise suggests. The film insists that being a hero isn't about superpowers; it's about character. That's a message worth your family's time.

It isn't polished, and it isn't spotless. A few production hiccups — a backward sign, an obviously fake video, a dangling question about a character's father — will bug sharp-eyed viewers. There's also name-calling, gross-out humor, and a joke or two that lean into cultural commentary rather than pure kid-comedy. None of it is severe, but it's enough that younger children should watch with a parent nearby.

For older kids and grown-ups who enjoy a well-meant animated romp, this is worth the trip.

Charlie is an ordinary golden retriever until aliens abduct him and the neighborhood cat, Puddy, and hand out superpowers on a whim. Charlie comes home talking, flying, and stronger than he's ever been — and so does Puddy, who's furious about everything from his powers to his messy owner. As Charlie starts using his new gifts to help people, with his loyal boy Danny at his side, the stage is set for a rivalry that will test what actually makes someone a hero.

Three stars means this one mostly works, and works well. The animation is slick, the voice cast is committed, and the film lands an emotional core rare for this kind of movie. Owen Wilson's easy, familiar voice makes Charlie instantly likable, and young Dawson Littman gives real feeling to Danny, a boy who wants his dog to believe in himself. Ruari MacDonald and Tabitha St. Germain both go appropriately over-the-top in supporting roles.

Where it falls short is polish: a few continuity slips and unanswered questions suggest a script that needed one more pass. Older viewers may also wish for deeper story and character development. Younger audiences, though, will likely laugh right through those gaps and simply enjoy the ride.

This is a film that believes character beats superpowers, and it says so plainly. Charlie becomes a true hero not because of what he can do but because he saves people and puts them before himself — a message the movie repeats through two Bryan Adams end-credits songs insisting anyone can do good without being "the Man of Steel." Friendship, family, motherhood, teamwork, and helping others in need are all genuinely extolled here, and the film's redemptive arc has real moral weight, even if it stops short of naming where goodness ultimately comes from. As Christians, we'd add what the film doesn't: it's God who makes us able to be good in the first place.

The film does include a couple of cultural touches worth knowing about before you watch: a villainous dog who claims to "identify" as a cat (and isn't taken seriously by the humans around him), and a line parodying a well-known political slogan. Neither is dwelt on, but both are the kind of moment worth a quick conversation rather than a shrug.

Underneath the cartoon chaos is a true longing — to be more than what you were given, and to matter through how you love rather than what you can do. Scripture says the same, more deeply: "the LORD sees not as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Charlie the Wonderdog is exactly what it sounds like — silly, sweet, and surprisingly sincere about what makes a real hero. It's got enough heart to earn a spot on family movie night, and enough rough language and gross humor that little ones should watch alongside you. Our answer stands: worth the trip — not for young children.