FamilyFans Movies

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BOLT (PG)

Plot Summary: A disillusioned canine superstar escapes from the television studio and travels across country to save his co-star.

Reason for the Rating: Some mild action and peril.

In the past few years we’ve seen plenty of super hero movies…The Fantastic Four, Spider-Man 1,2, & 3, Iron Man, and the Incredible Hulk to name a few. But there haven’t been many animal superheroes at the movies. Which makes Bolt your abnormal canine. Oh, except he’s not really a superhero.

You see, Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is the star of his own TV show. Except he doesn’t know it. In the show, Bolt has some amazing abilities…he can outrun motorcycles, use heat vision to explode bombs, and most importantly, use his super-bark to stun the bad guys. He uses all of these to protect his “person,” Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus) from the evil Dr Calico (Malcolm McDowell). Little does Bolt know that reality isn’t what it seems. As in The Truman Show, television execs have fooled the star into believing the show itself is real. Bolt never sees the cameras or microphones, and while he misses Penny when she leaves his trailer every night, he never guesses that he lives on the set.

That is, until he unwittingly escapes while trying to save Penny, and is accidentally shipped to New York. Suddenly his super powers don’t seem to be working. It must be that the Styrofoam packing peanuts have some kind of power over him. Like Kryptonite is to Superman, so is Styrofoam to Bolt. Regardless, he must get back to Hollywood and save Penny.

While in New York City, Bolt comes across Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), a stray cat who is worldly-wise. Convinced she is part of Dr. Calico’s plan and that she knows where Penny is, Bolt ties her to his leash, dragging her along with him on his adventure. As with all stories like this, Mittens and Bolt become friends in their struggle to survive on the open road. Mittens teaches Bolt many “dog” tricks, like begging for food and chasing a stick. While he loved Penny, he had never been able to just enjoy being a dog while secluded on the set in Hollywood.

It’s not long into their trip when they meet Rhino (voiced by Mark Walton), a hamster who lives for TV. Recognizing Bolt immediately, he insists on joining this escapade back to Penny. Rhino is the highlight of Bolt. Like Mater in Cars, he steals the show with his hilarious antics and verbal acuity. In some ways he reminds me of Det. James Carter (Chris Tucker) in Rush Hour…a big talker and full of confidence, but lacking in skills that could actually protect anyone. The best thing Rhino has going is the ball he lives in, which allows him to keep up with Bolt and Mittens. But what Rhino lacks in ability, he more than makes up for in hilarity. He certainly keeps this movie interesting.

Disney did a fabulous job on Bolt. The animation is fantastic, the voices perfect, the humor laughable, and the story is one that children and adults can both grasp and take meaning from. Mitten and Rhino teach us that the bond of friendship can see you through many difficulties, if you allow your friends to travel those roads with you. Bolt shows us that everyone has unique gifts and traits, but sometimes they look different than we expect. And the love between Penny and Bolt is just heartwarming.

FAMILYFANS RECOMMENDS:

Take the little ones, put on your 3-D glasses (if you so choose to see Bolt in 3D), and enjoy a movie that is sure to make you smile.

AFTER THE SHOW:

• Rhino is fully convinced of Bolt’s superhero abilities, even when all the evidence proves otherwise. In your life, who is a friend that believes in and encourages you, even when you don’t feel able?

• How has God made you special?

• Tell about your best friend. What makes him or her so extraordinary?

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