Disney's Bolt *Review and Spoliers*

Today I saw Disney's most recent animated feature, Bolt. Starring John Travolta and Miley Cyrus. The best thing of the movie, it was in 3-D! SPOILERS BELOW!

A white German Shepherd named Bolt (John Travolta) is the title character of a hit television series called Bolt, co-starring with his loving owner Penny (Miley Cyrus). In the show, Bolt has various superpowers such as super strength and speed, heat vision, invincibility and an ultra-sonic "super bark," and constantly thwarts the evil plans of Dr. Calico (Malcolm McDowell). However, the filming crew has intentionally kept Bolt ignorant about the fact that he is being filmed to create an effect of realism on the show. As such, Bolt not only doesn't know that his superpowers aren't real, but he is deprived of living like a normal dog, much to Penny's dismay. After filming the show's first cliffhanger episode in which Penny is kidnapped by Dr. Calico, Bolt believes she is in actual danger and becomes all the more motivated to "rescue" her. He breaks out of his trailer and runs through the studio, attempting to break through a window only to be knocked unconscious and fall into a cardboard box, which is shipped from Hollywood to New York City.

Roaming the streets of New York, he finds that his "powers" aren't working, believing that the Styrofoam from the cardboard has a weakening effect on his body (much likeKryptonite for Superman). He decides to find a cat whom he believes will lead him to Dr. Calico and Penny, associating all cats with the villain because he owns one (the cat who plays him had also made a pastime of using evil phrases off the set to see Bolt's reactions). A flock of pigeons brings Bolt to Mittens (Susie Essman), a street cat who loves to threaten them out of their food, as a means of retribution. Fearing for her own safety, Mittens plays along with Bolt's delusions that she works for Calico and directs him to Hollywood, but ends up getting dragged along as a "prisoner." Meanwhile, Penny is saddened by Bolt's disappearance but is forced by the studio to keep shooting with a Bolt-lookalike.

Bolt begins to experience sensations he had never felt before such as bleeding and starvation, the latter of which convinces him that he is poisoned. Coming across a camp site, Mittens teaches him how to beg to the campers for food, which she passes off as the "antidote," like a dog usually does. There they meet Rhino (Mark Walton), a TV-obsessed hamster and a huge Bolt-enthusiast, whom they recruit on their journey westward. Realizing his identity as a TV star, Mittens tries to convince Bolt that his whole life has been part of a TV series, but they are both captured by Animal Control. After being broken out of the Animal Control van by Rhino, Bolt finally realizes the truth about his powers. However, Rhino, unaware of this revelation, inadvertently tells Bolt that he doesn't need his powers to be a hero. Using stealth and improvisation, Bolt and Rhino rescue Mittens, who is profoundly moved by the heroism of these confused new friends.

As the trio continue on the journey, Bolt is depressed that he doesn't know what to do with his life now that he knows he has no superpowers, so Mittens teaches him how to live like a normal dog. Bolt takes to typical dog activities, such as playing fetch and sticking his head out the window of a moving vehicle. Mittens assumes that Bolt will be content living as a homeless dog, but Bolt is still motivated to return to Penny. Suddenly embittered, Mittens begins to rant that Penny's love for him is no more real than his powers or adventures, inadvertently revealing that she was once a house cat who was abandoned. Refusing to believe that Penny doesn't love him, Bolt continues on to Hollywood alone but, taking pity on Mittens, wishes her the best. Later, Rhino convinces Mittens to follow Bolt to Hollywood and help him.

Bolt returns to the studio and is heartbroken to find Penny embracing his lookalike, unaware that Penny still misses him and that her affection for the lookalike was part of a rehearsal for the show. Witnessing this, and realizing that Penny truly does love Bolt, Mittens confronts Bolt and manages to clear up the misunderstanding. Back on the set, the Bolt-lookalike panics during filming and accidentally knocks over some torches, setting the soundstage on fire and trapping Penny. Bolt arrives and reunites with Penny, and manages to get themselves rescued. Penny quits the show, adopts Mittens and Rhino, and moves to a rural home to enjoy a simpler, happy lifestyle with Bolt and her new pets.

I felt this movie was good. However, the plot should have been expanded. The story was just your ordinary "Dog saves the Girl" fairytale. The small plot, left it as any imaginary fairytale. Disney, has recently done better with animated films. Disney Pixar's Wall-e is being nominated for an Emmy (The 1st animated movie to ever be NOMINATED). So, bolt left me hanging, but is showing that Disney is getting better. However, if you want a true animated experience, Watch and Pixar Movie, and tell me if you don't have a smile on your face by the end.