Click to play videoCast: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman
Direction: Byron Howard
For those seeking feel-good family entertainment, try Bolt, the new Disney animation film about a fearless dog (voiced by John Travolta) who stars every week in a top-rated television show in which he uses superpowers to vanquish his enemies and protect his feisty teenage owner Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus).
The twist here is that Bolt believes his powers are real. So when he's accidentally separated from Penny and stranded alone in the real world, he must come to terms with being an ordinary pooch, while at the same time striving bravely to be united with the little girl who adores him.
Best described as an enjoyable adventure, Bolt gets its most charming moments when our canine hero is joined on his journey by his two sidekicks – a sassy street-cat named Mittens, and manic hamster Rhino.
There is a genuine sense of fun in the interactions between these unlikely companions, and the film works for both kids and adults because it artfully blends exciting action with a comical road-trip saga, all the while lacing it with a dogged sweetness.
Never as edgy as those Pixar gems – Wall-E and Ratatouille – Bolt is still funny and heartwarming in equal measures.
I'm going with three out of five for Bolt; watch it with the kids on a Sunday morning at a cinema that's playing it in 3D. It's sentimental fluff, yes, but you'll enjoy it anyway.
Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
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