Andrew McMurtryREVIEW: Bolt (2008)
January 2nd 2009 03:20
“Bolt” is the new animated film from Disney Pixar. Bolt, voiced by John Travolta, is the star of an action TV series. On the show, he has superpowers – heat vision, super speed and, best of all, a super bark. The only thing is he doesn’t know that he is on a TV show. He believes that everything is real. He lives in a trailer on the studio lot so as not to get wise to the fact that he is just a real dog. On the show, he saves his person, Penny (Miley Cyrus) from the evil Dr Calico (Malcolm McDowell), every week. After getting out of the sticky situations, Penny takes Bolt back to his trailer, where he can’t switch off. She does press and lives a life outside the set but Bolt is stuck in the world that he sees as reality.
One day the network, after ratings have declined, decide that the show needs a shake up after focus groups told them that they are tired of happy ending. So Penny gets kidnapped. Bolt, who freaks out because he still believes it’s real, escapes and accidentally gets sent to New York. On his adventure back to Penny, he realises that he is not the super dog he believes he is but just a normal dog. He is helped to this realisation by a New York alley cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a star worshipping hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton). This movie reminds me of Milo and Otis. It is a buddy movie between a dog and a cat. After some early bickering between Mittens and Bolt, mostly because of their initial meeting, they become friends.
This movie is an impressive film. It is well done and really shows how brilliant and almost realistic the Pixar animation is. There are great sequences and camera techniques like in live action films. It really is startling how good they are getting at doing these animation films. The 3D version of the movie is good as well. The 3D graphics are very understated, which is good. They aren’t just shoved down your throat. It is not just the animation that is good though. The dialogue is pretty good; it’s pretty clever. There is a good amount of humour. There is also a little bit of mushy sentimentality that seems a must in modern film but it is not overwhelming which is good. It is a fun, interesting movie. It’s enjoyable for all ages.
“Bolt” is a well made movie. It is an interesting story that seems to have taken from many other Disney and action films. The acute attention to detail is phenomenal and it is a very good, polished movie. Bolt is a good character. He’s a cute fellow with great voicing and well created physical attributes. His supporting cast is fantastic and well done. Mittens and Rhino are great comic fodder as well as a great way to show the message through their friendship. “Bolt” is well thought out. There are no real bad characters, just the adventure back to his home with Penny. I’d give this film 3.5 out of 5. It’s a good fun movie though and well worth the price of admission.
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