AMB Reviews

Bolt: 7.5/10 Stars

Release Date: November 21, 2008

Content Advisory: Rated PG for some mild action and peril. While filming a TV show, there is much gunfire and explosions. However, in real life, several animals embark on a journey, where they are tossed around on moving vehicles, captured by dog-nappers, and swing on ropes from high heights. A building fire nearly traps a girl and her dog inside.

Review:

How many of us wish that Walt Disney was still alive? I, for one, second that notion. Ever since Disney's death back over forty years ago, Disney just hasn't been the same. Of course, they still have released gems such as "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid," but many of their newer films lack the magical touch that Walt provided on his films. To me, after viewing the trailer for "Bolt," I had to say that it looked like the same-old, same-old mediocre Disney formula they had been handing us for years. Was I right in the end? Yes and no.

In Short:

"Bolt" is a lighthearted comedy meant to make you laugh and forget about all of life's problems while sitting in that theater. The plot, for Disney, is actually somewhere near original, being the simple yet comedic story of a Hollywood dog so obssessed with his own action TV show, he actually thinks that he is a superdog... even in the real world once filming is finished. His owner, Penny, loves him dearly and stars by his side in the show as well. Of course, when Penny is kidnapped by the villain in the TV show, Bolt thinks that Penny actually is captured in real life. So he sets off on a journey based on a lie. After being shipped over to New York on accident, he must find his way back to California with two new friends before it's too late.

Let me tell you: Disney most certainly succeeds in making you laugh. Sitting next to my cousin in this film, we both were found laughing hysterically many times throughout the film. That said, "Bolt" is very predictable and offers nearly the same formula that many of Disney's previous films have offered. It contains a shred of originality, but once the movie is finished, you realize that that small shred was blown away by Bolt's superbark long ago. It is a cliche Disney flick, which offers both its ups and downs.

In Full:

"Bolt" begins with an adoption sequence, where Penny, as a little girl, adopts Bolt as a puppy. From there, it's a quick cut to 5 years later, where Penny and Bolt star in their own action TV show. After watching an entertaining and nicely laid out action sequence from their TV show, we slowly learn from the first act, that Bolt has grown so obssessed with his TV show, that he actually believes that he is a superdog and has the ability to fight villains, like in the show.

So then, it would only be reasonable to believe that once Penny is kidnapped in one of the episodes, Bolt automatically thinks that she is kidnapped for real. Easily escaping from his trailer home, Bolt rushes around the campus looking for Penny until he accidentally finds his way into a packing crate headed to New York. Once there, it's not long before Bolt forces a reluctant cat to help him find Penny, as well as befriending an exaggerated and insanely hyper hamster named Rhino. They then must make their way all the way back to Hollywood, California, Bolt still believing that he is a superdog.

Of course, this being a comedy, you can expect plenty of laughs that are delivered. John Travolta delivers the voice of Bolt with just the right touch of comedy and drama, while Miley Cyrus succeeds as Penny... the lonely, depressed girl who just lost her dog. Although the cast is not as all-star as, per say, Madagascar 2, it most definetely is able to create humorous and touching moments without trudging into the corny side. The animation is done well, and although I was not able to see this in Disney Digital 3-D, I know that it most definetely would've been cool to see it in 3-D.

Of course, this being a Disney film you can't expect many twists and turns in the plot or anything really out of the ordinary or unpredictable. Its plot pretty much remains on the same track all the way through, with nothing too eye-popping or mind-boggling. It is a light-fare movie, that is the perfect treat for someone in need of a mindless yet still insanely fun ride. It offers the normal array of corny Disney morals, the usual happy ending, and the senseless curveballs, meant to throw you off track, even though you know that in the end it will steer back on track once again.

In the end, while watching the movie's end credits, I tried to assess what I had just seen. Although I had most definetely found myself laughing hysterically at many points throughout the film, I just couldn't escape the movie's many Disney cliches. For some, they will find the "disneyification" a good thing, as they are in need of a light, careless, yet still humorous treat. For others, in need of a thought-provoking, unpredictable, and deep film... "Bolt" fails to satisfy. Of course, since "Bolt" was never made out to be any of those things, it's only reasonable for it to end up being mindless. But isn't that the fun of it all? Isn't that what you've come to expect nowadays from Disney? In conclusion, "Bolt" will please those who have come to love the normal Disney formula. For everyone else, this flick would be one to pass. "Bolt" is plain ol' Disney... which could be taken as good thing for some, or a bad thing for others.