Bolt (November 21, 2008)

Bolt is the first Disney movie I remember seeing in theaters (and the first I saw in 3D!) and so it holds a special place in my heart and memories (which admittedly will cloud my judgement a bit). The plot follows Bolt, the canine star of a network television show, who believes that, like his on-screen persona, he really has superpowers. Because of this delusion he becomes accidentally separated from his co-star and actual owner, a young girl named Penny. He must go on a cross country road trip from New York City to Los Angeles to reunite with he and meet unlikely friends along the way. First off, I love the film’s opening sequence. It sets up the action pack fantasy world Bolt inhabits- complete with gadgets, exotic locales, and supervillains. I can understand how the formula of Penny and Bolt always finding a way to defeat the evil Dr. Calico week after week could get stale after a few seasons, but I would, personally, watch the show religiously. However, the main focus, the cross-country adventure, is where movie shines. Bolt is such a likable character, along with his newfound friends, Mittens the cat and Rhino the hamster. He has been intentionally deluded into believing he is a superhero for the sake of a more realistic take for the cameras. This causes him to put himself, and his friends, into unnecessarily dangerous situations (like leaping onto a moving train) because he believes himself to be invulnerable. Watching him come to the realization that he is just a normal dog, is a bit heartbreaking. He is crushed as his whole world view is shattered. But then he is able to move past this and learn to become a real dog, one who can beg, play, and stick his head out of the window of a moving vehicle, and this is beautiful to witness. Mittens is a snarky cat who was abandoned and left on the streets of New York to fend for herself. She helps Bolt learn to accept his place in the world, along with Rhino, a humorous Bolt superfan. But just because Bolt may be normal does not mean he cannot do extraordinary things- and that is a lesson for all of us. The character designs for the main trio are fantastic- with Bolt in particular being super adorable. The humans as well look really good, a step up from Disney’s last CGI effort, Meet the Robinsons. Lastly, the soundtrack, composed by John Powell is one of my favorites from a movie. It accompanies Bolt’s journey beautifully capturing the highs and lows and lulls in-betweens. I also love the two original songs, “I Thought I Lost You” by John Travolta and Miley Cyrus, and “Barking at the Moon” by Jenny Lewis. Overall, Bolt is a simple, but great adventure with thrills and heartwarming moments. It is definitely one of the better offerings from the early 2000s by Disney and is credited with helping to kick start a new revival at the studio, one that has, arguably, lasted until today.

Final Rating 8.5/10