Toon Talk: Bolt
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Granted, this is a movie with talking house pets and pigeons, but the world they inhabit is real, or as real as computer animation can make it (cast as it is with humans that appear to be leftovers from The Incredibles). In order to buy into the story, one must be able to believe in the setting that the movie puts it in. The high implausibility that a television network would go to such extremes (not to mention expense) for what is basically a kid�s show is just too much to ask (just look at the cheap production values of, say, The Disney Channel�s Hannah Montana). Perhaps a more whimsical take, such as we would have likely got if the original director -- Lilo & Stitch�s Chris Sanders -- had remained on the project, would have better served the film.
(c) Disney
Nevertheless, the real plot of Bolt is set in motion when our hero, believing that Penny has been kidnapped by the aforementioned villain, the green-eyed Dr. Calico (Malcolm McDowell), breaks out of the Hollywood studio and ends up getting himself shipped off to New York City. Still under the delusion that he is super-powered, Bolt enlists the unwitting aid of a streetwise stray cat named Mittens (Susie Essman); Bolt thinks Mittens is another feline minion of Calico, and therefore knows where Penny is.
The unlikely duo set out on a cross-country road trip, where they are joined by Bolt�s number one fan, a hamster (exercise ball and all) named Rhino (Mark Walton). Through their misadventures while traveling back to California, Bolt not only discovers the truth about himself, he also learns how to be a �real dog�. But can a real dog save his master from real danger?
As a family film, Bolt is entertaining enough (although parents of younger children should pay heed to the PG rating due to some intense action scenes) and contains some nice animation and its fair share of funny bits (mostly from Rhino, a breakout character if ever I saw one).
However, with Bolt following on the heels of such other lackluster CG attempts as Dinosaur, Chicken Little and Meet the Robinsons, I feel that it is time for Disney to get back to what they do best -- traditional animation -- and leave computer animation to the experts at Pixar. How much longer is it until The Princess and the Frog comes out �?
Toon Talk Rating: B-
Coming Soon:
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
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-- Kirby C. Holt
-- Logos by William C. Searcy, Magic Bear Graphics
Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ... In addition to his Toon Talk reviews, Kirby is the creator of Movie Dearest, a blog for movie fans.
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted November 24, 2008
-- Kirby C. Holt
-- Logos by William C. Searcy, Magic Bear Graphics