BOLT

US, 2008, 103 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: John Travola, Miley Syrus, Greg Germann, Mark Dalton, Suzy Essman, James Lipton.
Directed by Chris Williams and Byron Howard.

What a very entertaining surprise.

Because Bolt is a dog, a particularly cute little canine, the film will have its fans. And pitted against some cats, the dog is sure to win.

There is enough action during most of the film to keep children's audiences (a bit older than the very littlies) attentive and a spirit of adventure, comedy and heroic climax. That's the review for the children! What follows is the review for the adults who will probably enjoy themselves more than in many another animated film.

The film is very well written by Chris Williams and Dan Fogelman (who wrote Cars). There is plenty of plot and the dialogue is sharp and funny with lots of irony at the expense of Hollywood and the world of television (including the viewers!).

The premiss has been done before, for instance, Purple Rose of Cairo where the screen actors have to deal with real life or Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Last Action Hero where the comic book hero finds himself in the real world without
any experience of how to deal with reality like money.

While Bolt is picked from the pet shop by a little girl, it is only after a rip-roaring episode of a TV series where Bolt is the super-hero dog rescuing the girl, Penny, that we realise that poor Bolt is a victim of method acting. He has to be kept at the studio in his trailer so that he has no distractions from keeping in character. By the way, the episode plays on every cliché but seeing Bolt do the heroics gives them new life. And then we see how the series is being made, especially the special effects for the wonder dog – who believes that he really does have super-powers.

After this there are some funny send-ups of television directors who take themselves ultra-seriously, a hard-bitten executive from the networks head office and an agent with a patter that has to be heard to be believed.

When the networks decide that a cliffhanger episode is needed, Bolt thinks that Penny has really been kidnapped by the evil Dr Calico and escapes the studio to search for Penny. Much of the comedy is in Bolt's trying to do his superpower acts seriously and finding all kinds of explanations why he is failing. In New York he meets several pigeons who know his face but can't put a name to it (despite the huge hoardings in front of them). They trick a hungry cat, Mittens, who gets food from them in return for protection, into becoming Bolt's captive and companion on the road trip back to Hollywood. All kinds of funny adventures to keep us entertained. With more pigeons in LA making a pitch to improve the series by introducing aliens.

And, enter Rhino, a hamster in a bubble who is Bolt's number one fan and believes everything. His babble is also very funny.

The climax is tearful then slambang heroics, but Bolt has learned the truth and accepted it – and is the better actor for it.

Attractively drawn, edited with pace, it is voiced by an excellent group of actors. John Travolta has quite a range as the voice of Bolt, Miley Cyrus is Penny and Malcolm McDowell? the required English villain as Dr Calico. Special praise to Suzie Essman from Curb Your Enthusiasm for a very effective Mittens. Mark Walton is often hilarious as Rino and Greg Germann is particularly good as the agent.

Filmed in 3D but it won't matter too much if you see it in a flat screen version.

1.An entertaining children’s fantasy? Action, comedy? The entertainment for adults, irony and media parody?

2.The animation, the effects for three-dimensional screening? The style of drawings, for Bolt, for the humans? The drawing and editing of the action? Television, the stunts, the effects? Musical score?

3.The strength of the voice-casting, John Travolta as Bolt, Malcolm McDowall? as sinister? The studio personnel, director and agent?

4.The range of characters: animals, talking animals, animals like humans, the parody of human behaviour? Bolt, Rhino, Mittens, the studio cats, the pigeons?

5.The parody of television, action television? The implausibility of the plots, the cliff-hangers, the evil director, the agents?

6.The prologue and Bolt as a puppy, cute, Penny buying him, the expectations that he would live at home as a pet?

7.Penny and her father, Doctor Calico, the abduction of the father, Doctor Calico’s henchmen, the dire threats, Bolt and his powers, getting through bars, the strength of his barking, the destructiveness of his stare, flying and leaping, swinging from pole to pole, his escapes, helping and rescuing Penny? And the later use of all these devices in Bolt’s trying to get back to California?

8.The revelation that this was all a television show? The director talking about his art, the executive representing the networks and her threats? Bolt, confined to his trailer, keeping him in the mood for the show, the parody of method acting, Bolt believing that it was all real, never getting out?

9.The new episode, the decision to have a cliff-hanger? Bolt overhearing the cats talking, the cats teasing him and taunting? His getting out, hearing Penny’s voice from the television edit room and thinking it was real and that she was in danger?

10.Bolt getting out, wrapped in the package, shipped to New York, the puzzle on getting out? The repetition of all the stunts – and Bolt failing in real life? The bars and their being twisted, trying to get his head through, his being helped by Mittens? Swinging on the banner? The Styrofoam in the parcel and his fears that it was destroying his powers?

11.New York, the pigeons, the comedy, their advice, not being able to place his face – and with the huge awnings with his face? Mittens and the protection of the pigeons? The pigeons setting Mittens up? Bolt, his becoming a friend of Mittens, persuading Mittens to go on the journey?

12.Mittens as a character, the voice, puzzled about Bolt, the truth dawning on her, sharing the adventures, putting up with him, the change of heart, finally helping him?

13.The travel, the car, the train, the truck, the adventures in Ohio, the dangers?

14.The encounter with Rhino, his being the number one fan, his adulation of Bolt, the speeches, believing everything to be true, helping out?

15.The adventures, the three of them using their wits, finally getting to Los Angeles?

16.The studios, the choice of the new Bolt, Penny, her loving Bolt, having wanted to get him to stay with her, her talking with her mother, her sadness?

17.The Hollywood sign, the pigeons of LA, their talking about pitch, smooth talk, Finding Nemo, suggesting The Aliens?

18.Bolt going to the studio, admitting the truth about his powers? Seeing Penny with the other Bolt?

19.Mittens, Rhino, their help in the studio?

20.The stunts, the fire, Bolt to the rescue, becoming a hero? Going back into production – and the aliens coming?

21.An entertaining film with the basic characters and plot, working on many levels of satire and comedy?