Charlie the Wonderdog: Owen Wilson’s Animated Outing Misses the Mark

There’s something telling about a film’s release date. When a new animated feature drops in the middle of January, it’s usually a sign the studio’s not expecting a blockbuster. That’s exactly where Charlie the Wonderdog lands—right in the thick of the post-holiday lull, a time when most punters are just looking for something to keep the kids occupied. This isn’t so much a passion project as it is a calculated move: moderate budget, a script about a dog with wings, and a single big-name actor to slap on the promo. The formula’s clear—draw in families for a few weeks, then let the streaming services do the rest. But here’s the twist: while it’s not a disaster, it’s not exactly memorable either. It’s just… there.

Owen Wilson Takes Centre Stage

The whole show rests on Owen Wilson’s shoulders. He’s the voice behind Charlie, a scrappy stray who gets whisked away by aliens in a scene that sets the tone for the chaos ahead. There’s a green beam, a couple of bumbling extraterrestrials, and a transformation that leaves Charlie with a new set of powers. Wilson’s laid-back delivery fits the bill. He sounds like he’s giving it a fair crack, not just phoning it in, but don’t expect the sort of magic you’d get from a top-tier animated studio.

Wilson’s easygoing style is the glue holding things together, because the rest of the film is all over the shop. The villain? A cat with a plan to swap humans and felines, growing to a ridiculous size in the process. The design’s nothing special, and the character spends most of the time yelling at sidekicks. The film seems to reckon that if the characters aren’t shouting, the kids will lose interest. It’s a noisy affair, and the volume stands in for actual jokes.

Comedy, Chaos, and Questionable Choices

The relentless energy gets a bit much. Early on, there’s a scene in the villain’s lair that leans hard into gross-out gags. The place is a mess, and the humour’s more off-putting than funny. It feels like the writers didn’t trust the story to hold up, so they chucked in a few cheap laughs and loud moments to fill the gaps.

The animation sits somewhere in the middle. It’s not terrible—gone are the days of dodgy CGI where everything looked like melted plastic. The fur looks like fur, the lighting’s fine, but there’s no spark. It’s all a bit generic, like someone just used the default settings and called it a day. There’s nothing in the backgrounds to suggest anyone really cared about the world they were building. It does the job, but that’s about it.

Script and Substance: All Surface, No Depth

The script doesn’t offer much for anyone over the age of ten. The best family films sneak in a message or two for the adults, or at least give the kids something to chew on. Here, it’s all surface-level. The story ticks the usual boxes—being a hero is good, mateship matters—but there’s no real heart behind it. The writers seem to have decided that a flying dog was enough to keep things moving, and from a business point of view, they’re probably right.

For the little ones, the bright colours and action will do the trick. It’s harmless enough, not likely to do any damage, but don’t expect it to leave a lasting impression. For everyone else, it’s a bit of a slog—loud, frantic, and forgettable. By the time the credits roll, you’ll be ready to move on.