For years audiences marveled over the life of Lassie as they found themselves intrigued with her instinctive actions and sincere charm. But no one ever wondered how they got Lassie to perform like she did. Was she coaxed? Could it have been some sort of training? Or was the innocent dog being fooled the entire time? More than likely it was due to an intense round of training, but all three points are quite possible.
This is where super-dog Bolt comes into play. Living a life of action and danger, Bolt works hard every day to save Penny from the hands of the Green-Eyed Man. But when the cameras stop rolling and the popular television show breaks for the night, no one informs Bolt. Instead, he is lead to believe that his supposed powers are real and that his successes are a result of them. Then one day, when the show ends in a climatic cliff-hanger, Bolt attempts to rescue Penny by escaping the Hollywood set. In his pursuit, he is accidently shipped across the country to New York City. Now, armed only with his delusional powers, Bolt must perform his most daring adventure yet: A cross-country journey through the rigors of the real word to get back to his owner and co-star Penny.
While the film does possess a noticeable amount of predictable characteristics and over-the-top antics, I still found myself highly anticipating the fun and innocent adventure. Thankfully, it was well worth the hype. Suited for people of all ages, Bolt proves to be more than a movie as it comes to life on the screen, providing a great escape from the unflattering truths of reality.
As audiences are introduced to the adorable dog and his female owner, one can't help but become entranced within the story, following its every move from start to finish. From the unfortunate shipment to the befriending of both Mittens the housecat and Rhino the TV-obsessed hamster, everything comes together to create a strong and fluid film.
It is a good thing too. In Finding Nemo, Ellen DeGeneres stole the show as Dory, the memory-losing tour guide. The way she spoke helped to sell the story as every emotion was told through voice. However, in Bolt, neither John Travolta nor Miley Cyrus was able to create such passion and fire. Instead, each line was spoken with true earnestness, though nothing incredibly special.
It is beside the fact that Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana to some) has one of the most distinctive voices in Hollywood. The forced dialect is unmistakable to any regular moviegoer as she pronounces her words with a distinctive accent, turning off many as a result. Even though I personally cannot stand her voice, I found myself neither repulsed nor distracted by it, a feat in and of itself.
Still, the film is one that concentrates on its story, and it does so with good reason. Though complete animation, the film carries an innocent tone, taking you back in years and allowing you to sit and enjoy a lighthearted adventure comedy. And though the film runs a short 96 minutes, any escape is one worth taking.
*Bolt is also being shown in Disney 3-D. However, no scenes benefit from the 3-D view, making either version a suitable one.
