Bolt

Bolt

Wonderful Tale
Nilda F. Andrews

Bolt is the latest animated film from Disney Studios. It is absolutely cute and I mean this as a positive thing. Bolt, a beautifully groomed white German Shepherd, can fly, run faster than a speeding bullet, stop cars, trains, planes with a single butthead, and move huge mounds of earth with a single ear-piercing growl. Yes, he can do all these things as the star of a weekly television series in which he helps his human companion, Penny, escape from the evil Calico.

Bolt doesn’t realize he isn’t SUPERDOG until he is inadvertently shipped across the United States landing in New York and discovers his powers don’t work. Not unlike another superhero, he, too, has succumbed to a debilitating substance — the Styrofoam peanuts in the packing box, which have drained his strength or so he believes. It takes an encounter with a feline named Mittens, who runs a back alley with the grip of a member of the Sopranos, to tell him he’s just another dog. His insistence on getting back to Hollywood and Penny, however, sways Mittens to join him. On their journey, a devoted fan, which just happens to be a hamster named Rhino, enthusiastically signs up.
Humorous and Well Told

This is a wonderful tale (ok pun intended) that is very humorous and well told. It has great animation (thanks Pixar) and smart, snappy dialogue. It will bring a tear to your eye or at least a lump in your throat (or maybe it’s just me) as the trio makes their way back to Hollywood, especially with the title song playing in the background.

John Travolta, as the voice, does a very nice job of bringing Bolt to life. Miley Cyrus does an acceptable job as Penny, but any accomplished voice-over actor could have done her voice. My bet, though, was on Mitten’s voice (Susie Essman)…very witty with just the right amount of snap and prissiness an outcast feline should possess. Take your little ones to see it. They will enjoy it and so will you.

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