Disney’s other animated success of 2008 “Bolt” was overshadowed by the critical and financial success of “WALL E.” A funny and affecting movie in its own right, “Bolt” deserves proper consideration by the whole family on DVD. Created outside the imagination shop that is Pixar, Disney’s own computer animated film is exciting, with richly developed characters, and some touching moments where praiseworthy morals shine through. An adventure film starring a “super-powered” dog, a stray cat, and a puffball hamster, “Bolt” is a journey worth taking.
Penny (voiced by TV star Miley Cyrus) chose Bolt (John Travolta) to be her pet when he was a rambunctious puppy. Five years later, Penny is speeding away on a high powered scooter from trained thugs sent to capture her. Bolt believes he is a super dog with special abilities, meant to protect her. Penny is simply an actress on a weekly television show and Bolt‘s powers are all stunts and special effects. When the ratings begin to dip, the producers decide to end an episode on a cliffhanger. Bolt believes his owner is in danger from the villains and breaks loose from the confines of his trailer to rescue her. Bolt thinks he really has super powers including a signature “super bark” but in the real world his powers appear to have vanished. Overcoming this, Bolt continues on his adventure to find Penny, meeting a world weary cat and a fan boy hamster along the way. Can Bolt find “his person” without the help of his abilities, instead relying on his friends?
The pacing of the film keeps the action coming in fairly regular clips. From the beginning, Penny and Bolt are in a “Mission Impossible” style escape from the bad guys. The viewer will get caught up in the action while finding moments during the excitement to chuckle. When Bolt starts on his real journey, his loyalty and determination make him an easy protagonist to adore. The story puts the main characters into real danger repeatedly and the audience feels it. Unlike in “The Village,” the audience is not betrayed midway through the film, learning reality is radically different than we are lead to believe. Instead “Bolt” reveals the dog’s lack of powers after the first fifteen minutes, setting the stage for the real story.
Children will adore the dog, cat, and hamster’s interactions and vivid personalities. Adults will appreciate the humor as the storyteller’s poke fun at Hollywood generally and action movies specifically. The animals are more than caricatures, as Mittens the cat (Susie Essman; TV’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) has an especially moving back story. “Bolt” is as much an emotional journey for the characters and the viewer as it is a physical journey across the country. Much like the family classic “The Incredible Journey,” this film gives its animals such commendable characteristics that by the end of the film the viewer will be cheering and weeping alongside them. Bravo Disney, on continuing to bring us the magic.
Rated PG for some mild action and peril.
