Bolt

Synopsis

An action hero super-dog named Bolt (voice of John Trovolta) is the star of a hit TV show before he is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood studio to New York City. Determined to get back to his owner and co-star, Penny (voice of Miley Cirus, Hanna Montana) he takes a cross-country voyage with the help of cynical, neglected house cat named Mittens (voice of Susie Essman, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and an enthusiastic, pudgy hamster named Rhino (voice of Mark Walton, Chicken Little) who is crazy about TV. There’s one big problem—Bolt believes his superpowers are real, which makes it quite the adventure.

Review

A charming little BIG movie that — whew — had a few teardrops rolling down my cheek, and my adrenaline pumping from all the adventure and excitement. Bolt is everything the previews show it to be. It’s full of great action, comedy, bright colors, and cute and creative characters. The story is genius and very believable—well as far as an animated movie goes. I want everyone to see this film. Let me just step back for a moment. I get so excited thinking about the movie and every aspect of it.

Bolt is a 2008 computer-animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios that is the cutest story about, well, Bolt—an action super-hero dog in a popular Hollywood TV series. His only problem is he doesn’t know he’s an actor, which of course makes him a great dog actor. He has no clue that his entire way of living isn’t real, and his determination to protect his person from danger lives with him night and day. He doesn’t get a chance to live life a normal dog and go outside and play. He just stays on the set (which he’s clueless he's on one). Awww poor dog. He made me want to cry for him. I felt so bad.

But am I wrong to say it was hilarious watching the other animals (those that know he’s just a regular dog) play him for boo boo the fool? They don’t harm him—it’s just the movie does such a great job showing how the Hollywood side of Bolt's life is the reason why he is both comfortable but also clueless. Styrofoam peanuts!

Anyhoo, his co-star and owner Penny (Myley Cirus, Hannah Montana) plays a girl who is always in danger of being kidnapped by the evil Green-Eyed man. When the script calls for Penny to be taken, Bolt thinks that she really is gone and in the clutches of their nemesis. Bolt escapes from the set and goes crazy trying to find her, ending up clear across the country. Someone got fired letting that dog off the set.

Bolt runs into all types of animals, all with that wonderful sense of personification that Disney animated films always achieve. I’m talking pigeons with New York accents who think things are “Ridonculous”, an alley cat named Mittens who gives it to Bolt straight with a sarcastic tongue, and a charged up TV fanatic hamster named Rhino and his exercise ball. Not sure why he is named Rhino, but he is funny, wild and his teeth could use a little work. He’s so little and round but has no fear. He “Eats danger for breakfast.”

John Trovolta is great as the voice of Bolt. He really brings the character to life. I wonder if there will be any major animated movies without any big named actors attached to it.
Bolt is such a wonderful movie about loyalty, family and friendship. It also has a Mission Impossible feel to it with all the action and technological gadgets. For a minute, I thought I was going to see Tom Cruise’s short little animated legs running down the street yelling, “I’ve got the rabbit’s foot!”

It’s great how this film has chase scenes, explosions, a bad guy and just enough going on to really keep your interest. I don’t have any kids and I was perfectly fine kickin’ back and watching it with my adult self. Go on and see for yourself. It’s a good one. I know soon as the DVD comes out, I’m buying it.

My Rating ~ 5 Reels

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