Review of Bolt (1995) by Tim R — 22 Jul 2011

"Bolt" demonstrates that when a character is placed in a world beyond his/her understanding, there are plenty of opportunities for all sorts of adventures and misadventures to occur. Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is a dog who is the star of his own television show. He has never lived life outside the world of television, that is until he accidentally winds up in the real world, which is foreign to him. As a result, he becomes involved in a slew of adventures and misadventures, and this movie finds ways to be humorous, upbeat, exciting, and sad. Writers Dan Fogelman and Chris Williams have created a thought-provoking screenplay that thoroughly exhibits each of those moods and leaves you with many lasting impressions.

On his show, Bolt stars as sort of a canine version of Superman. His sidekick is a young girl named Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus). Together they encounter numerous dangers and villains, which they survive and defeat, thanks to Bolt's incredible abilities. The problem is that Bolt has spent his entire life on the set of the show. He doesn't realize that it's all make-believe and that his powers don't exist.

One day, he's unintentionally transported out of the studio and into the real world. He discovers that he can't burst through walls, knock people unconscious with a simple hit on the shoulder, set fire to metal by staring at it, or annihilate an overwhelming amount of land and everything on it with an aggressive bark. Of course, he's baffled at first, but is still convinced that he possesses his powers and that Penny is in trouble. He meets a stray cat named Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), who is confused by his behavior and his mission to save Penny, but decides to play along with the situation.

Later, they meet an exuberant hamster named Rhino (voiced by Mark Walton). He's a big fan of Bolt's television show and is thrilled to meet his hero in person. When Rhino learns that Penny is in trouble, he's anxious to join Bolt on his journey, no matter how hazardous it may become.

Rhino brings energy and humor to the movie in that he's so immersed in Bolt's world of action and adventure while remaining oblivious to the fact that it's all fake. Despite being a small, innocuous hamster, Rhino is completely fearless and hungry for action. It's funny to watch him engage in dangerous activities in order to save or attack other characters. There are times when he proves himself to be quite resourceful. But no matter what happens, he's always merry.

The movie becomes lighthearted when Bolt is exposed to the innocent, carefree lifestyle of an ordinary dog. It's cute when he learns the normal behaviors of a dog, including how to beg for food, fetch a stick, bury a bone, etc. Since he has been confined to the fantasy world of television, this different lifestyle is a whole new experience beyond his imagination, but he really enjoys it.

In addition to all the laughs and excitement, "Bolt" also contains some sadness, particularly when Bolt's relationship with Penny is in question, but there's something to remember here. Since Bolt thinks that the television show is real, his love and affection for Penny are real too. He has proven that he'll go to great lengths to make sure she's safe from any kind of danger. Penny knows the show is make-believe, but her feelings for Bolt extend way beyond the show. In spite of some preaching from Mittens, Bolt refuses to believe that his relationship with Penny is as fake as everything else on the show. Shortly after, there's a key scene that is heartbreaking, but at the same time, it further confirms Bolt's feelings for Penny which later become the basis for a delightful resolution.

Of all the wonderful things in this movie, I find the most notable feature to be Bolt himself. His size and appearance are perfect in relation to his on-screen personality: A vicious and fearless dog, but a cute and lovable one as well. These different attributes are detectable even when looking at a still photograph of him. No matter how tough he acts, it's impossible to hide his natural charm. A simple appearance from him on the screen is enough to make you smile, whether you're a child or an adult.