Like a Bolt Out of the Blue

Every year, my family has a tradition. While other people are shoving and, apparently, killing each other at Black Friday sales, we go to the movies like everyone else who doesn't want to deal with the mall. This year, we went to see Disney Animation's new movie, Bolt.

Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is the canine star of a hit television show along with his "human," Penny (Miley Cyrus). The show's director (in perfect casting, James Lipton of "Inside the Actor's Studio) is a firm believer of method acting--even for the dog. So he creates an almost The Truman Story like environment. Bolt is never allowed to be a real dog nor see anything that would indicate nothing is real (for instance, a boom mike). Bolt grows very protective of Penny, unaware that she really isn't in danger and that his powers are actually well-choreographed stunts.

This environment backfires when Bolt, thinking Penny has been kidnapped, escapes to save her. He winds up across the country in New York City. A trio of pigeons (approriately named Joey, Vinny and Bobby) lead Bolt to Mittens (Susie Essman), a declawed alley cat. Believing she is working with Penny's abductior, Bolt drags Mittens on a cross-journey trek to save his beloved person. Along the way, they meet a hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton), a big fan of Bolt's. He, too, believes the TV show is real but Bolt soon learns the difference between fact and fiction. He also learns the meaning of friendship and true heroism.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie takes place about halfway through. Bolt has dragged Mittens to Ohio, where they stumble upon an RV campground. Bolt is hungry but needs to be taught how to beg by the cat. In a silly montage, Bolt begs his way to a full meal...but true hilarity happens when Mittens tries to do the same. Of course, if I were at the park, I'd put out a bowl of milk for the cat. While Mittens does play a big role and get an arc of her own, I did sit through the movie wondering what the writers had against cats.

But for the characters who really stole the show, that belongs to the pigeons--be they the New York trio of Bobby, Vinny and Joey or the Cali duo of Billy, Tom and Blake. From the accents to the mannerisms, particularly the Cali duo pitching a script idea to Bolt, they were a delight whenever on the screen. As for the main cast, Travolta gave a spot-on performance as a dog who believes he has powers who is disillusioned during the course of the movie. Cyrus' performance was pretty good, but as Penny's age is never established, sometimes her voice is hit or miss--sometimes perfect, sometimes a bit too old it seems for Penny. Essman and Walton give wonderful supporting performances.

The design, while not as superior as sister company Pixar's, was a vast improvement over "Meet the Robinsons." It seemed more lifelike than the Robinsons' past background designs. When Bolt was in New York, I could recognize the city and was impressed with how accurate it was (Though for the future, Disney animators, New York has not used the "Walk/Don't Walk" signs for quite some time).

All in all, it was a cute movie--much better suited for younger children than Pixar's summer offering Wall-E. It doesn't drag and offers some splending shots--even if they are CGI. Stay tuned for the credits for a lovely duet between Cyrus and Travolta entitled "I Though I Lost You."