Once upon a time Disney would produce classics from their animation studios with the stroke of every brush. It was a golden period that started with “hair black as ebony” and peaked with the unparalleled Best Picture nomination for Beauty and the Beast.
Since then the list reads top to bottom an ever increasing blot on their CV, littered with direct-to-DVD cash cow sequels and instantly forgettable dross like Brother Bear and Mulan. Disney were dethroned, and seated in their place was the boundary-breaking genius of PIXAR. So it’s little surprise that Toy Story director John Lasseter has been drafted in to sprinkle some of his own pixie-dust on to Disney’s latest, Bolt.
Something of a canine Truman Show, Bolt (John Travolta) is the star of an all-action weekly adventure show during which he dodges explosions and outwits evil felines in order to save his co-star Penny (Miley Cyrus). The problem is he believes it’s all real, so when an on-set accident sees him separated from the studio, Bolt gets a case of the Buzz Lightyears and embarks on an Incredible Journey of his own to be reunited with Penny.
Lasseter’s input is obvious from the outset. Bolt is undeniably adorable and much care has been taken in assuring that the creations that inhabit the movie are all unique.
There are countless memorable characters: the New York pigeons that are faux-Mafia, answering to their own Don in the form of Mittens the alley cat (a brilliant Susie Essman); the sarcastic studio tabbies that poke fun at Bolt for his ignorance to reality; and a furball by the name of Rhino the hamster who will be etched into your consciousness for days to come with his hilariously cute ball-based antics. Much love has gone into designing them and the audience will reciprocate it.
Bolt has numerous stand-out scenes throughout a story that can be added to the canon of great American road movies – seriously. The pick of the lot is a beautiful shot of restrained subtlety after a breathless opening that features a fast food cup toppling over in the foreground as a helicopter explodes in the distance.
With exemplary voice work from Travolta and Cyrus to complement some stunning visuals (Bolt is also released in highly effective 3D), give this dog a bone.
[etRating value=“ 4”]
