Bolt (PG)

Super-dog adventure is fun, age-appropriate for kids.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
bolt_ver2.jpg
Movie details
  • 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

Parents need to know that kids are definitely going to want to see this animated adventure starring Miley Cyrus (well, her voice, anyway). Although Cyrus' character here has nothing to do with Hannah Montana, Disney is definitely marketing her involvement to her millions of young fans. While there are a few scenes of peril (explosions, hostage situations, evil cats.) in the TV-show-within-a-movie, it's made pretty clear to the audience that all of that is fake. There's nothing else here that's age-inappropriate for even the early elementary school set.

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

BOLT (voiced by John Travolta, doing some of his best work in years) is a special dog who's trained to believe he's actually a crime-fighting dog with superpowers, rather than a canine actor. Since puppyhood, Bolt has lived only on the TV show's set and truly thinks his young owner Penny (Miley Cyrus) lives under constant threat from a mad scientist and his evil cats. When Bolt accidentally lands in a shipping box, he winds up in New York City, still under the delusion that he's all-powerful. With the help of a reluctant stray cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a feisty hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton), Bolt travels cross-country to find his beloved Penny.

Is it any good?

4

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.

Related Video

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 20 reviews.

3


Posted on 01/02/09 by Carrie2009 Adult contributor

Know Your Kid, Too scary for sensitive 6 year old

I consulted the common sense review before taking my children, 2-1/2 and 6 years to this movie. It begins with a lot of intense actions scenes, explosions, and violence and my son asked to leave, which we did at about the 10 minute mark after the point when it was shown that the scenes were from a 'TV show', some of the characters were scary looking to my son. My 2-1/2 year old continued to watch the movie with her father and enjoyed it. I agree with other reviewers that found this too scary for their 5 year+ children and when I asked for a refund for our 2 tickets, I was told that we were not the only ones who had done so for this movie.
5


Posted on 01/02/09 by NDC Kid contributor, age 9

A good movie

Bolt is a very good and funny movie but some parts are a little bit violent.
5


Posted on 12/31/08 by breawycker Adult contributor

Great movie, but sad ending.

my son cried some at the end, beacuse it was very sad, but overall great!
5

Posted on 12/11/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

Tottaly Cool

I think that Bolt was a very cool movie. I so want that game and i think that it would be appropriate for like anyone who can be quiet to what the movie, HAHA.Well that is what i think of the movie blot
5


Posted on 12/04/08 by kimbo1427 Kid contributor, age 14

cute

i really liked the movie. it was touching and i cried at the ind but i am an overly sensitive person. really cute comparison for love, and determination for a kid.
5


Posted on 12/02/08 by joolz_43344 Adult contributor

I didn't think it was too scary for young children

I thought this movie should have been rated G. I didn't find anything in it for it to be PG and I'm pretty picky. I don't think it was scary for young children ages 5 and under. Of course they're not going to understand some the filming where Bolt thought he was a real super-hero dog. I thought it was a perfect movie!
4

Posted on 11/29/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

bolt

it was ok
4


Posted on 11/28/08 by golden retriever7 Kid contributor, age 10

I laughed!

I went to see this movie today and already reviewing it because it was so good! I liked it because it's different unlike other movies with just plain superdogs,like Underdog and stuff like that. Some parts may be found scary for younger kids,at the end of the movie you will find a burning building but Bolt saves the day.
3


Posted on 11/27/08 by jennyleefee Adult contributor

Too Much Peril for Young Ones

If your child has been somewhat desensitized to violence and peril (perhaps by Disney?) already, then this film should work for him or her. I enjoyed it. But my 5-year-old was confused by the blurred line between the movie's fiction and reality: the scary stuff that occurred in the fictitious setting of Bolt's TV show didn't seem harmless to her at all. Like most of Disney's other G movies of late, it's too ominous and perilous for young minds -- for little ones who are afraid of such benign things as the dark or people who make angry faces when they're talking. That's my five-year-old. She literally screamed and jumped across two seats, from her aunt's lap to mine, over a frightening scene that was fortunately near the movie's end. It was made clear soon after the scene (during which an evil bad guy comes at the movie's star with a sharp hypodermic needle while she's bedridden in the hospital in head-wrap bandages due to facial reconstruction necessitated by a catastrophic fire that nearly killed her and Bolt) that the scene was from the fictitious TV show featured in the film. Just think about how scary that is for a young kid to see. The line between fantasy and reality is very blurred for them already! Don't take your child until you're sure that he/she is very clear on the line between fantasy and reality.
5

Posted on 11/27/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 8

Greatest Movie I've seen with all my 18 friends...

This is a good movie, I loved it!!! Some parts are a little scary for people 5 years and under. Alexander

See all 20 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 12 reviews.

3


Posted on 01/02/09 by Carrie2009 Adult contributor

Know Your Kid, Too scary for sensitive 6 year old

I consulted the common sense review before taking my children, 2-1/2 and 6 years to this movie. It begins with a lot of intense actions scenes, explosions, and violence and my son asked to leave, which we did at about the 10 minute mark after the point when it was shown that the scenes were from a 'TV show', some of the characters were scary looking to my son. My 2-1/2 year old continued to watch the movie with her father and enjoyed it. I agree with other reviewers that found this too scary for their 5 year+ children and when I asked for a refund for our 2 tickets, I was told that we were not the only ones who had done so for this movie.
5


Posted on 12/31/08 by breawycker Adult contributor

Great movie, but sad ending.

my son cried some at the end, beacuse it was very sad, but overall great!
5


Posted on 12/02/08 by joolz_43344 Adult contributor

I didn't think it was too scary for young children

I thought this movie should have been rated G. I didn't find anything in it for it to be PG and I'm pretty picky. I don't think it was scary for young children ages 5 and under. Of course they're not going to understand some the filming where Bolt thought he was a real super-hero dog. I thought it was a perfect movie!
4

Posted on 11/29/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

bolt

it was ok
3


Posted on 11/27/08 by jennyleefee Adult contributor

Too Much Peril for Young Ones

If your child has been somewhat desensitized to violence and peril (perhaps by Disney?) already, then this film should work for him or her. I enjoyed it. But my 5-year-old was confused by the blurred line between the movie's fiction and reality: the scary stuff that occurred in the fictitious setting of Bolt's TV show didn't seem harmless to her at all. Like most of Disney's other G movies of late, it's too ominous and perilous for young minds -- for little ones who are afraid of such benign things as the dark or people who make angry faces when they're talking. That's my five-year-old. She literally screamed and jumped across two seats, from her aunt's lap to mine, over a frightening scene that was fortunately near the movie's end. It was made clear soon after the scene (during which an evil bad guy comes at the movie's star with a sharp hypodermic needle while she's bedridden in the hospital in head-wrap bandages due to facial reconstruction necessitated by a catastrophic fire that nearly killed her and Bolt) that the scene was from the fictitious TV show featured in the film. Just think about how scary that is for a young kid to see. The line between fantasy and reality is very blurred for them already! Don't take your child until you're sure that he/she is very clear on the line between fantasy and reality.
5

Posted on 11/25/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Loved It!!! It's beyond awesome. . . it's B-awesome!

I took my 5yr old daughter and we both spent the entire movie laughing. I didn't have to explain anything to her at all. She caught on quickly so it was a very enjoyable movie for both of us . . . unlike Madagascar2 where she ended up bored halfway through the movie and I was uncomfortable with some of the jokes. I didn't feel there was anything inappropriate in the movie. I even jumped at the opportunity of the fire at the end to explain the danger of playing with candles and matches.
4


Posted on 11/25/08 by CoastalMom Adult contributor

A great family movie!

We took our 2 6 year-old boys to this movie, and we all loved it. It was entertaining from beginning to the end, the boys understood what was going on, and there was nothing inappropriate in the plot or story. I really liked it. The characters were good - I especially liked the pigeons - and I don't remember any obvious stereotypes. It's hard to find a movie that doesn't make you cringe at some point when you are watching with your kids, there always seems to be an unnecessary death or sexual undertones, but I didn't see any in this movie.
5


Posted on 11/23/08 by jmch Adult contributor

Loved it!!

My family of 5 all enjoyed this movie!! I laughed A LOT along with my kids 11, 8 & 6!!
3


Posted on 11/22/08 by MissCharlie Adult contributor

I cant begin to explain. . .

How do you explain to a child that the pretend characters were pretending to be in fights up until the end where they where really in danger. Ugh- my brain hurts from trying. Honestly at one point the two leads pass in out a burning building. Most of the movie is an animated version of Mission Impossible or Die Hard. And the fact that they are all pretending doesn't make it okay-children really dont get that until they are older. Im shocked at the low age rating, even Madagascar 2 got 6+ and that was like Barney in comparison. If your kids are older, its great, but not for the younger crowd.
5

Posted on 11/21/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

I laughed, I cried and I lost six brain cells.

In Ontario it costs over $70.00 for a family of 4. This movie was fabulous from beginning to end.
See all 12 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 8 reviews.

5


Posted on 01/02/09 by NDC Kid contributor, age 9

A good movie

Bolt is a very good and funny movie but some parts are a little bit violent.
5

Posted on 12/11/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

Tottaly Cool

I think that Bolt was a very cool movie. I so want that game and i think that it would be appropriate for like anyone who can be quiet to what the movie, HAHA.Well that is what i think of the movie blot
5


Posted on 12/04/08 by kimbo1427 Kid contributor, age 14

cute

i really liked the movie. it was touching and i cried at the ind but i am an overly sensitive person. really cute comparison for love, and determination for a kid.
4


Posted on 11/28/08 by golden retriever7 Kid contributor, age 10

I laughed!

I went to see this movie today and already reviewing it because it was so good! I liked it because it's different unlike other movies with just plain superdogs,like Underdog and stuff like that. Some parts may be found scary for younger kids,at the end of the movie you will find a burning building but Bolt saves the day.
5

Posted on 11/27/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 8

Greatest Movie I've seen with all my 18 friends...

This is a good movie, I loved it!!! Some parts are a little scary for people 5 years and under. Alexander
5


Posted on 11/27/08 by Alexander Conn Kid contributor, age 8

Greatest Movie I've seen with all my 18 friends...

This is a good movie, I loved it!!! Some parts are a little scary for people 5 years and under. Alexander
3


Posted on 11/23/08 by dani2112 Kid contributor, age 15

Ok

This wasn't one of the best movies i've seen but it was ok. It's great for younger kids. There were some funny parts though.
5

Posted on 11/22/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

Bolt

This was such an amazing movie i loved it more than any movie i have seen in a long time!!! If you havent seen this movie you have to go see it!
See all 8 kids reviews >
Review It
Who's your favorite TV holiday special character?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
27%
The Grinch
34%
Frosty the Snowman
11%
Charlie Brown
18%
Shrek
10%
206 votes