The film premiered in 2008 and has quite the cast of voice actors... but we'll get into that later. Bolt tells the story of a dog and his love for his person, Penny. (Where have I heard that name before...?) What makes this story so interesting, however, is that Bolt (the dog) truly believes that he is a super dog with super powers... unbeknownst to him, he actually stars (with Penny) in a popular television series. The entire production of the show is built around Bolt never finding out that it's not real.
Unfortunately the network forces the show to liven things up a bit and ends one show with a cliffhanger. Bad news for the audience, right? But it's even worse for Bolt! He really believe Penny has been captured and he must save her! Cue an unfortunate packing box incident, and soon Bolt is not only outside of a television set for the first time in his life, he also finds himself in New York City, thousands of miles from Penny. But if there's one thing that Bolt really has, it's determination. He'll find his way back to Penny and save her. After all, with his super bark what could possibly stand in his way?
This Disney film has three of the ingredients that make a Disney film so great: a good story, a likable hero, and humor. It's still missing some elements like a villainous hero and original music throughout the movie, but it's an enjoyable film nonetheless.
What is most engaging about this film is its story. Bolt is a very likable hero - and also a dynamic one. He learns, grows, and changes from film beginning to film end and it's an enjoyable transformation to watch and experience. He truly loves Penny as mentioned above and Penny truly loves him. Bolt has got heart. And heart and a good story are a Disney win all the time.
What is probably most enjoyable about this film is its humor - a colorful cast of characters and some very talented voice actors give Bolt some excellent comedic elements. Penny is voiced by Miley Cyrus (circa her Hannah Montana days) and she does a good job. My favorite voice actor in the film, however, has got to be John Travolta as Bolt. The humor really comes in though through Bolt's interactions with a variety of characters on his journey from New York to Hollywood - namely a variety of pigeons and his traveling companions/prisoners (depending on the moment): Mittens, the alley cat, and Rhino, the dedicated sidekick hamster in requisite hamster ball. Mittens, voiced by Susie Essman, is a jaded feline who Bolt kidnaps in an attempt to force her to take him to Penny. Her dry wit and street sense are excellent fodder against Bolt's heroism and faulty grasp of reality. Rhino simply steals his scenes. He's lived his whole life in an RV watching Bolt on the "magic box" (TV) and now has a chance to fight beside his favorite superhero. He's got all the heart with none of the skills which means he's hilarious and he miraculously proves to be helpful in just about every scene.
Clearly I enjoyed Bolt. It was decidedly an engaging story with a fun cast of characters. I definitely recommend checking it out. It is worth noting, however, that the film is rated PG and may be too intense for younger viewers. There are a few violent action scenes as well as a number of moments of peril for the main characters.
And with that I'll leave you with some inspiration from Rhino the hamster:
"They need a hero, Bolt! Someone who, no matter what the odds, will do what's right. They need a hero to tell them that sometimes the impossible can become possible... if... you're... awesome!"
Coming Up Next: The Princess and the Frog
