Bolt Movie Review

Starring: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, Malcolm McDowell, Chloe Moretz, Kari Wahlgren, Sean Donnellan

Director: Chris Williams
Screenwriter: Dan Fogelman, Chris Williams
Producer: Clark Spencer
Composer: John Powell
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

As we venture through life, many of us have found that our intended roles may have become muddied by others perception of us as well as ourselves. Whether we like our lives or not, where we currently are is a direct result of our clarity or lack there of who we were created to be. This is the dilemma BOLT - The Super dog finds himself in as well. Raised by a wonderful little girl and desirous to protect her, BOLT soon discovers that his reality is false and that who he was created to be is priceless

BOLT, splendidly played by (voice of John Travolta) is a 3-D animated action adventure about a dog that's committed to keeping his young owner, Penny (voice of Miley Cyrus) safe at all costs. Although we've seen the owner-animal relationship many times before, BOLT has been raised to believe that Penny's constantly in mortal danger at the hands of the villain, “The Green-Eyed Man.” With his days fill with non-stop action, adventure and mystery, this has become his reality.

However, what BOLT doesn't know is that he's just an ordinary dog who's been tricked into believing he's a super hero. He's actually a dog in a very popular TV series and all of his powers are manufactured. He's never allowed to see the camera people or the microphones. Each of his moves a pre-calculated and all of the pre-supposed bad guys are really actors.

After a freak accident, BOLT is shipped to New York City after believing that he sees Penny being kidnapped by “The Green-Eyed Man.” Once in New York City , BOLT meets a myriad of characters - all of which are hilarious! His first encounter is with a group of birds laced, of course, with NY attitude. In an effort to help rescue Penny, the birds lead BOLT to a street-hustling, sarcastic and jaded cat named Mittens (voice of Susan Essman).

Mittens soon becomes BOLT'S resistant travel buddy on his journey to rescue his “Person.” Along the way Mittens realizes why her traveling companion believes he can do all of the things he thinks he can. He's really an action hero - in Hollywood . At the same time, BOLT experiences injury and hunger for the first time and needs Mittens help to survive. It is now that his reality is exposed and he loses confidence in his ability to save Penny.

Along their journey, BOLT and Mittens meet Rhino (voice of Mike Walton), a trailer park hamster who spends his days watching TV, so, of course he's an enormous fan of BOLT'S. He soon joins the dynamic duo on their adventurous road trip.

Together the three animals become to one anther what they truly need the most. Rhino offers BOLT hope; BOLT offers Mittens love and acceptance; BOLT offers Rhino courage and Mittens offers BOLT truth and reality. Without the adornment of super powers, BOLT realizes that he has what it takes to be a hero just as an ordinary dog. He finally becomes comfortable with who he was created to be.

This is certainly a movie for the entire family, but I can guarantee you the adults will enjoy it as much, if not more than the children. The messages are true to form and helps to drive home the messages of love, hope and true friendship.