Bolt: Almost Bark-Was review
Quick, name the three films that were nominated this year for the Academy Award for the Best Animation Film. Well OK...there was Wall-E that won, then there was Kung Fu Panda and...and...which was the third one? Chances are that you might not remember it. The competition this year was mainly between these two films, any other movie was merely filling the ranks of the shortlist. But the completist that I am, I had to see it.
If a film does not grab you within the first ten minutes it becomes very difficult for it to come back. And Bolt begins in a fashion that has been done so many times before you cringe when you see it again. Right away you are transported within an action sequence. A high speed chase, ultra tech gadgets, designer costumes and a dog with super power. After ten minutes or so the camera pulls back and you realize that it was actually a set piece for a film. This realization hits you so bad, you instantly develop a prejudice for the film. Which is a shame because Bolt does have its moments. Too few for you to get over the initial jolt but they are there nevertheless.
Our eponymous hero is a five year old dog who leads a Truman Show like existence. Right from puppy-hood he has been led to believe that he has superpowers which come into play when he is protecting his "person" from a vengeful villain and his henchmen. Each skirmish is shot by hidden cameras which becomes fodder for a successful ongoing television show. The ‘˜superpowers' are of course the result of some nifty handiwork on the part of the makers of the TV show. Everyone knows that it's a show except for Bolt who is content with his life as a protector. Just like a wrestler who has his trademark move, Bolt has a secret weapon in his arsenal - the ‘˜Super Bark'. A sort of supersonic woof that can whip up a maelstrom and uproot all in its path. And this is where your experience as a movie watcher becomes an impediment in you enjoying this film. You know that the Super Bark is fake but the dog does not. But you also know that in some while it will dawn upon the dog too. Yet in the ultimate action sequence the dog, in some way, will use his real bark to play savior, super powers be damned. And this is exactly what happens. What's more the last scene has the ultimate rescue-scene setting ever - a burning building. Better imagination would have been appreciated.
It's somewhere in the middle that Bolt redeems itself a bit. After being separated from his person, Bolt attempts to get back where he belongs and on the way hooks with a mangy street cat and an overweight hamster who is a big fan of his on screen persona. Effectively voiced by Susie Essman and Mark Walton, respectively. Essman in particular is superb as the cat. I'll now like to see her in a starring role in major movie. By contrast, John Travolta who voices Bolt is distinctly vapid. He does not have much of a voice anyways and his choice as the voice of the hero is slightly surprising. Was it his star power that landed him this job?
Watch Bolt if you do not have better movies to choose from (is that possible?). I personally would prefer a repeat of Kung Fu Panda.
Director: Byron Howards, Chris Williams
[rating:2.5]
