Bolt in 3-D (Walt Disney Pictures)
Bites the Hand That Feeds It
Bolt is the latest animated film aimed at the entire family, and like all new animated movies it is in 3-D. Lets get that out of the way right now, 3-D is still a pain. If you are a glasses wearing person like I am then the darn things never fit. Your eyes never totally adjust to the special effect of 3-D and you are liable to end up with a headache. I also cant believe that little children like wearing the glasses. So I vote no for any more 3-D films until they can find a way to do away with the glasses.
Now for the movie well Bolt is a pleasant enough piece of entertainment but it never really captures your imagination. The story has the dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) rescuing his person Penny (Miley Cyrus). He does this often as she is constantly being pursued by a green eyed man. The thing is it is all for a TV show but Bolt doesnt know this. He is in the same delusional world that Jim Carrey inhabited in The Truman Show.
One day Bolt is worrying about Penny being safe and he gets loose from the trailer where he lives on a soundstage. He ends up out on his own and eventually in New York. He meets a cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton). They team up to cross the country and find Penny.
Mittens is aware that Bolt is delusional and goes along with it, but Rhino buys into it all even the alleged super powers. They make an odd trio but their friendships are strong. Individually they may have some weaknesses but together they are invincible. Or so they think.
The strange thing about this movie is the story paints a picture of Penny and Bolt being overworked and never able to have a normal life. Disney is notorious for its child actors, Miley Cyrus included, so arent these filmmakers undermining the studio system that Disney is and has always been.
Mark Waltons Rhino steals the show. He has the best lines and the most expressive features. He is manic and dynamic at the same time. Essman also scores as Mittens. She has a wise delivery that suits the lone feline in the film. Travolta and Cyrus are okay but sort of bland.
The film is rated PG for mild violence.
At a running time of nearly two hours this film is a bit taxing for smaller children. Some of the middle adventures could have been scaled back with no loss of entertainment value. Still Bolt will undoubtedly amuse and charm kids and keep parents from fidgeting too much.
This isnt the best animated film of the year but it is okay entertainment. Yet I still wonder why Disney didnt realize the storyline knocks the very star system for children they have in place.
I scored Bolt in 3-D a dogged 6 out of 10.
