Bolt (PG)
Super-dog adventure is fun, age-appropriate for kids.
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- Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
- Directed By: Byron Howard, Chris Williams
- Cast: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman
- Running Time: 96 minutes
- Release Date: 11/21/2008
- Genre: Family and Kids
- MPAA Rating: PG
- MPAA Explanation: some mild action and peril
Parents need to know
Families can talk about what made kids want to see this movie -- is it because of the story or because of all the advertising/marketing? Do you prefer animated movies where the voices are done by celebrities? Why or why not? Families can also talk about the difference between reality and fiction. How was Bolt stuck in a fictional life? What does Penny think Bolt is missing by thinking he's actually a super dog? Why is Mittens skeptical about humans? How is Miley Cyrus uniquely qualified to star in a movie about a celebrity who should be allowed to act normal?
Message
Social Behavior:
Penny and Mittens are strong female characters, and Rhino is a courageous sidekick. Bolt is at first melancholy about not being a real super dog, but he overcomes his initial blues to find his true courage.
Consumerism:
Featured brands include The New Yorker, Tiger Beat, U-Haul, The Tonight Show (but not with a recognizable host), and several Las Vegas hotels, like the Bellagio; New York, New York; Bally's; and Caesar's Palace.
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Violence
The peril is mostly in the TV show within the movie. It's clear, however, that the violence is fake, since the audience (unlike Bolt) sees the crew setting off explosions, catching stuntmen, etc. In the "real" world, there are cartoonish pratfalls and slapsticky violence, but nothing too disturbing.
Sex
Language
A couple of mild insults (like "stupid") among the animals.
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Sandie Angulo Chen
Is it any good?
Travolta is surprisingly evocative as a dog with a brave exterior but sensitive spirit, and it's refreshing to hear Cyrus as something other than her self-promoting persona or her alter ego, Hannah Montana. The pair have a touching on-screen chemistry, as do Travolta and Essman, who's best known as Jeff Garlin's shrewish wife Susie on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. Toning down the edge in her New York accent, Essman's Mittens may remind viewers of a more assertive Jessie from Toy Story 2.
With John Lasseter installed as chief creative officer at Walt Disney Animation, Pixar's influence is noticeable in Bolt, and that's a good thing. It's not a Pixar film, but the revolutionary studio's meticulous attention to detail and dialogue are evident. There aren't too many wink-wink double entendres or inside pop-culture jokes -- just a simple story about a super dog who comes to terms with being super to the only person who counts.
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