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New Disney flick ‘Bolts' its way to our hearts

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These days, an excellent yardstick for an impressive movie comes in the guise of my 4-year-old grandson's reaction. While I still have my favorite genres, filmmakers and actors, if a production company, cast and crew can captivate my favorite little man, then I am sold. A great deal of pleasure can be derived from the simple laugh of a child and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the film as I watched my grandson marvel in the humor and animation of Disney's newest film, “Bolt,” starring John Travolta and Miley Cyrus. Rare is the animated full-length feature that can ensnare both children and adults equally, and “Bolt” does.

Bolt (voiced by Travolta) is discovered as a pound puppy and cast in a television series about a dog with superpowers and his human companion Penny (Cyrus). Having never been out of the studio, Bolt thinks he can indeed burn through metal with his heat vision, stop cars with his head, leap almost to the point of flight and that he has a “super” bark, capable of upheaving roadways and thus villains. The director (James Lipton) of “Bolt” the series believes that, because Bolt believes it, the canine actor delivers a far more, well, at the risk of being repetitive, believable performance.

Happenstance takes Bolt out of his star trailer and into a box full of pink packing peanuts that is shipped across the country to New York City. When Bolt finds his superpowers are limited, he at first blames the Styrofoam - “It has weakened me,” he reasons - but then carries on in his effort to rescue Penny, who he thinks has been kidnapped by the evil Dr. Calico, aka the “Green-eyed Man” (Malcolm McDowell). Soon Bolt is coupled with Mittens (Susie Essman), an angry alley cat who extorts food from pigeons and whom Bolt captures because he thinks she is one of Dr. Calico's henchcats. Soon joining the pair in his own plastic exercise ball is Rhino (Mark Walton), an overweight hamster who loves television and believes that Bolt harbors heroic abilities. With only a Waffle House placemat map to guide them, the three head across country so that Bolt - even after he discover he has no superpowers - can save Penny. Their adventures are priceless.

Kudos must be given to all the voice actors, but I was particularly impressed by Essman (who co-starred in HBO's “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) as Mittens. She delivers her lines with purr-fection. Walton, who makes his living voicing cartoon characters, delights as Rhino. The tiny hamster's huge personality fills his little exercise ball and the big screen. Travolta, too, is flawless as Bolt, and I can only imagine the fun he had voicing the part. He is my age and still there is a boy-like exuberance to his voicing of Bolt and a fully believable innocence of character, too. Super-expressive Cyrus' Penny pleases as well, and even though they are just animated individuals, the love and emotion between human and pet shine vividly.

Sure, the adult-geared one-liners zip past the kiddies - like the pigeons pitching a TV show, jabs at Hollywood and agents and Mittens' snarling “Look here, Cujo,” - but these references and jokes make the film all the more pleasing to the adults in the audience. Along this line, Greg Germann (formerly of television's “Ally McBeal”) plays Penny's sleazy, money-hungry agent wonderfully.

Since I had to miss the press “Bolt” premiere, I did not get to see “Bolt” in 3-D. I opted instead to see it on my own, but at the paid screening the theater was charging extra for the 3-D glasses, so I skipped that chance. Instead, I took my grandson, my best friend and her 17-year-old daughter to see the film without the 3-D enhancements, but I feel certain the added 3-D effect can only serve to improve the film - and it is nearly perfect already. I plan on seeing it in 3-D later.

Details in animation, a super-charged opening sequence, talented actors and a fun and interesting story make the PG-rated “Bolt” the ideal family film. My grandson wants to own it on DVD - now. Bolt is a great character, a true hero for the ages and I hope Disney can somehow bring him back again. I am placing an A+ in my gradebook. “Bolt” will most certainly be on my top ten list for the year.




This story was originally published on November 28, 2008

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