The Wasteland Reviewer

Charlie the Wonderdog (2026) Written Review

Who wouldn’t love to have a super dog for a pet? There are many pet lovers out there who would do anything for their animals. They can be the best boy or the most infuriating agent of furry chaos, and we would still love them with all our hearts. We might even think that they are superheroes in our own eyes. But I am not sure how often they might get abducted by aliens and give superpowers. That is the set-up for the new animated superhero film Charlie the Wonderdog. Owen Wilson brings this good boy to life when his new powers allow him to speak. But unfortunately, a big, fat cat named Puddy receives powers as well…but his intentions are much more nefarious. 

Does writer/director Shea Wageman and company deliver a compelling story to engage kids and adults alike? Not quite. This is certainly one of those children’s films that will get their parents (or anyone above the age of 10) rolling their eyes hard. First off, the whole set feels random and ridiculous. Now, a film about a superhero dog might just sound ridiculous to begin with but this overly convoluted narrative with bratty space princes, global conspiracies, and overly complicated schemes from the villainous cat is hard to follow and connect with in any substantive way. The alien elements are fleeting and something that does not feel wholly necessary. When Charlie is just an adorable, aging dog, he is infinitely more interesting and engaging (which feels like a big failure of his characterization once he has powers). None of the characters have substantive depth and they all seem completely foolish and nonsensical. The script cheats by having things happen and people believe or not believe for the sake of the plot. There are some horribly incorporated social commentaries and political statements that feel so blunt, clunky, and aggravating. This film never feels engaging enough to keep the audience invested. 

Does Wageman deliver from a directorial perspective? The animation is solid. Certainly not as detailed as some of the biggest studios but the animation is solid. Human designs are where the film is less convincing. The action is quite fun as they render these superpowered confrontations well. Honestly, some of the best elements of the film are in those action sequences. The tone of the film is a struggle which will take you out of the film. The early sequence of Charlie and his human pal growing up is sincere and moving, which makes it the most impactful part of the film. The film circles back around to this later near the end of the film but the wild shenanigans and annoyingly silly elements in between feel in stark contrast. For a relatively short film, the experience drags quite a bit at times. The humor is one of the weaker elements as well as many of the jokes and gags fall flat so distinctly.

Can the voice cast deliver an added layer of personality? There are only two main points to make with the voice cast. One…it is Owen Wilson. That is what you get once Charlie opens his mouth. Wilson does not bring any nuance and layers to this voice performance. The turn is unfortunately one note and is somehow less interesting than Charlie just sounding like a dog. The second point is that no one else in the cast really stands out. The voice performance for the villainous Puddy is not memorable making for a lackluster and disappointing antagonist. The voice performances are forgettable since they don’t have any defining features, or they sound like silly stereotypes making them forgettable. 

Is Charlie the Wonderdog a new animated feature to enjoy with the whole family? Certainly not. The adults in the audience will want out of this experience quite quickly. Wilson isn’t even enough to grab those older in the audience. A jumbled, messy, and ridiculous plot leaves you wanting so much more out of this superpowered dog tale. Mostly forgettable, Charlie the Wonderdog might not even keep the kids in the audience engaged either.