A New Hero is Unleashed! BOLT!
Written: Nov 22 '08 (Updated Nov 23 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Flawless plot, pacing, acting, animation, its just brilliant.
Cons: The Agent is so annoying it actually detracts.
The Bottom Line: Another Disney Classic. A great story with family friendly values. Take the whole family.
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| talyseon's Full Review: Bolt |
Bolt! (2008) Directed by Byron Howard and Chris Williams.
Bolt: There's a guard.
Rhino: (A hamster in a ball) I'll snap his neck.
Bolt is an American White Shepherd, beloved partner of Penny. Penny's father is a scientist whose knowledge is coveted by the evil Dr. Calico. If Dr. Calico can lay hands on Penny, her father will crack easily, spilling all he knows, and allowing the evil genius' plans for world domination proceed. What is to stop the brilliant and remorseless villain, and his horde of henchmen from getting their foul hands on one little girl?
Bolt! Enhanced by Penny's father, Bolt is stronger, faster, and has superpowers! He is more than up to the job of protecting Penny!
At least, that is what Bolt believes. You see, he and Penny are the stars of the Bolt! Action series. Every clue that it is not real is carefully hidden from the canine actor, so that his reactions are totally believable.
And it works. Bolt thinks his life really is an endless series of adventures, saving his person from danger, and the machinations of the Evil Dr. Calico.
Penny wants to take Bolt home with her, but the studio won't allow even the tiniest break in his "Method Acting."
However, when a ratings reality means they have to do a cliffhanger episode where it ends with Penny in danger, Bolt reacts like the hero he is, and runs to the rescue. Non-shattering glass winds up not only keeping Bolt a prisoner, but knocks him out and lands him in an outgoing crate. While the studio hunts desperately for their star, he is mailed to New York.
There, Bolt begins the frantic search for his human. He notices that his powers are diminished, and concludes Styrofoam is his kryptonite, weakening his powers.
However, some pigeons, who are hardly bird brains, use Bolt to solve a problem of their own. Mittens is a sleek little feline with an interesting take on a protection racket. The pigeons tell Bolt that Mittens knows where to find the Green Eyed Man (Dr. Calico). Since the villain associates with cats (don't all villains?) it makes sense to Bolt.
Mittens, realizing she is dealing with a crazy canine decides that talking sense to him might get her dropped of the bridge, so she plays along, promising to show him where Penny is being held captive. With a fast-food placemat with a map of America, she explains they are in New York, and Penny is in Hollywood. Bolt is elated, and filled with purpose. He is going to Hollywood! And so is Mittens.
What!?!
They are joined on their quest by Rhino, a hamster in a ball with a thyroid condition. Rhino watches TV all day, and instantly recognizes Bolt. Rhino is the ultimate fan boy. He reminds me of a character from The Incredibles; Buddy, the kid who wanted to be Mr. Incredible's Sidekick. Just feed him WAY too much chocolate, and cover him in fur....
This odd trio makes their way across America, learning a lot about the way the world works, about how to be a dog rather than a super hero, and how to be a friend. Will they thread the dangers of hitchhiking, Animal Control, and Rhino's enthusiasm? Will Mittens over come her cynicism? Will Bolt find Penny again? And can he go back to his old life? Would he want to?
The Cast.
John Travolta ... Bolt (voice)
Bolt is somewhere between Krypto the Superdog, and Truman from the Truman show. When reality slaps him across the nose with a rolled up newspaper, it is a hard blow. But even though he is not super, Bolt discovers he is, indeed, a hero.
Miley Cyrus ... Penny (voice)
The love interest. Bolt loves Penny, and Penny loves Bolt. She is not just about her career. Miley Cyrus proves she can go beyond Hannah Montana, and brings this little girl to life.
Susie Essman ... Mittens (voice)
Cynical and mistaking that for wisdom, Mittens none the less has the clearest vision among our heroes. She skates the line between annoyed and touched without sinking into maudlin.
Mark Walton ... Rhino (voice)
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. You know this guy. Whether he is the guy who can argue for hours about who would win in a fight between Wonder Woman and the Hulk, or the guy who has a police scanner on his moped, you have seen this boundless enthusiasm before, and been frightened by it.
Malcolm McDowell ... Dr. Calico (voice)
Malcolm is the villain. He could have phoned this one in. I love this man.
James Lipton ... The Director (voice)
It annoyed me when I heard this guy, and could not place the voice. As soon as I hit IMDB it was so obvious! Apparently, he can act too.
Greg Germann ... The Agent (voice)
Overly cheerful, unctuous and speaking only in buzzwords and catch phrases, you will hate this man. Wicked good job, Greg!
Diedrich Bader ... Veteran Cat (voice)
The villainous cohort of Dr. Calico, this cat is the jerk of the piece. His chief delight is yanking Bolt's chain, and it is he who ultimately let him loose. Bader gets badder all the time.
The Analysis.
It's Disney. It's brilliant. I'm done.
No, seriously. Disney takes it's animation seriously, and this is no exception. Bolt is flawless, with the little touches that mean so much. For instance, in the big chase scene, as we are watching the exploding helicopters from a distance, you see the fireball bloom. A split second later, you hear the muffled "whoumph" and an empty drink cup falls over. That is the fine detail that distinguishes Disney and Pixar from the rest of the crowd, (and Disney's first line movies from their straight to DVD sequels.)
Disney knows that their products are aimed at kids, but they recognize that their parents have to sit through the movie as well, and they make darn sure that the movie entertains both sets of demographics, and that is what makes them great. The movie manages to entertain on multiple levels, action and heartstrings, with the subtle jokes for the parents.
And there is a message. It is a simple one. Anyone can be a hero, if they choose to be. And those you love deserve nothing less than your heroic best.
Take the whole family. Heck, borrow your sister's kids. Just go.
This is an entry into Captaind's Good Movies Write-Off. And also in Carstairs88's Mickey at 80 Write-Off.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Family Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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talyseon
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