Bolt: a delightful romp for young and old (From Western Telegraph)

Bolt: a delightful romp for young and old

8:50am Sunday 28th June 2009 in

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Bolt (Cert PG)

Since he was a pup, Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) has been the star of a hugely popular TV series of the same name, in which he plays a genetically- engineered canine with superpowers who saves owner Penny (Miley Cyrus) from the clutches of dastardly Dr Calico (Malcolm McDowell).

Bolt truly believes that he is a superhero and is blissfully unaware that Penny is an actress and that his every move is captured on hidden cameras. When fate flings Bolt into the big, bad world, he joins forces with a sarcastic alley cat called Mittens (Susie Essman) and a deranged hamster in a ball called Rhino (Mark Walton) to be reunited with distraught Penny.

Bolt is a delightful romp for young and old alike, balancing thrills and spills with broad comedy, most resting in the excitable paws of Rhino.

“Every minute spent in your company becomes the greatest minute of my life!” squeaks Bolt’s number one fan, misting up his ball with heavy breathing.

The collaboration of Disney animation and Pixar creative genius John Lasseter (acting as executive producer here) is a triumph.

The opening action sequence, taken from Bolt’s TV series, is exhilarating, but for belly laughs, nothing surpasses a brilliantly orchestrated break-in to an animal pound to rescue Mittens, which sees Rhino come into his own. The fun and games build to a scorching finale.

Requisite lashings of Disney sentiment guarantee top pedigree entertainment for the entire family, underscored with a message about the responsibilities that come with owning a four-legged friend.

RATING:****
Damon Smith