Seen on: November 21, 2008

The players: Directors: Chris Williams, Byron Howard, Writers: Dan Fogelman, Chris Williams, Voice cast: John Travolta, Susie Essman, Miley Cyrus, Mark Walton, Malcolm McDowell

Facts of interest: None.

The plot: Bolt is a super-dog who spends most of his time emarking on perilous adventures to protect the world from bad guys, at least until he discovers none of it is real and he's just the star of a TV show.

Our thoughts: “Bolt” is Walt Disney’s latest computer-animated family adventure, and unlike other projects the studio has previously tackled without the support of Pixar, this one pretty much hits all the right notes. The world of Bolt the super-dog is exciting, explosive and touching, and being part of it for 96 minutes feels darn good.

Bolt’s life is quite the adventure. He’s a fearless dog who possesses all kinds of impressive superpowers, and together with his master Penny (Miley Cyrus), he embarks on daily missions to protect the world from ruthless bad guys. What Bolt doesn’t know, however, is that every aspect of this extravagant lifestyle is just for show.

You see, Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is in fact just the lead star of a popular Hollywood TV series, and although none of his adventures are real, he still firmly believes everything he experiences is true. So when Bolt accidentally escapes from his trailer and ends up being shipped to New York City, he quickly discovers a world he’s never known before.

This is where Bolt’s first real-world adventure kicks off. Holding on to his firm belief that he has real superpowers and convinced Penny has been kidnapped, Bolt enlists the help of an abandoned housecat named Mittens and a hyperactive hamster named Rhino to find the fastest way back to Los Angeles. What follows is a perilous cross-country trip that will change the dog’s life forever.

I’m not a big fan of films about dogs or talking animals because I’ve seen those things way too many times already, but in the case of “Bolt,” I’m more than willing to make an exception. Byron Howard and Chris Williams’ film proves to be a delightfully entertaining experience, loaded with refreshing gags and backed by a relatively clever story about a dog’s attempt to accept reality as it is.

Although the fast-paced plot boasts some captivating action sequences, the heart of the movie is Bolt’s transition from a dog who thinks he’s invincible to an emotionally vulnerable dog who learns that you don’t need superpowers to be man’s best friend. Mittens and Rhino serve as the two sidekicks giving Bolt the reality check he so desperately needs, and watching all three of them interact is a guaranteed pleasure.

In fact, screenwriters Dan Fogelman and Chris Williams did a fabulous job creating sophisticated side characters in this film. While Mittens and Rhino boost the funny aspect of the flick, Penny portrays the exemplary human who cherishes Bolt’s love for her and never gives up the hope he’ll eventually return home. Although it may be a little predictable in the end, kids will certainly love the bonding between Penny and her so-called pet.

Visually, the folks at Disney have done an amazing job. “Bolt” looks gorgeous and the amount of detail in the film is remarkable. While Pixar still has the upper hand in generating the most colorful and visually stunning features, this one proves Disney’s animation studios are on the right track. Congrats also to Travolta, who delivers an excellent voice-over.

Freaky quote: “Guess I'll have to "roll" with the punches!" – Mark Walton

The final word: The message in this film works, the action is there, and “Bolt” is an adventure with a lot of heart and energy. The movie runs a little too long, but there are plenty of thrilling moments and a solid dose of successful jokes that will keep any feeling of boredom out of the picture. This is one that your kids will want to see over and over again. It doesn’t happen often, but this is a dog flick that works.

Article by Franck Tabouring