D52–Bolt

Released in 2008, Bolt was Disney’s third CG animated effort. With each release, the box office had increased, aided both by the fact that the quality of the Disney films was increasing, but also by the stellar track record of Pixar and the general public’s mistaken belief that any CG film was “Pixar”, regardless of which studio actually released it. Of their three films, Bolt’s plot is the closest to what would be considered standard Disney fare – a talking dog is separated from his master and must travel across country to reunite with her – but the film itself manages to tread the line between traditional fare and a modern edge, without falling into many of the traps the DreamWorks films were succumbing to.

The direction here is excellent, both during the quiet character moments and the broader action scenes. In fact, the opening action sequence, depicting a scene from Bolt’s TV show, is so well done that an entire film could easily be made from it. The voice cast does a good job, but despite some big names, no one really stands out. The real star here is a script that excels at being funny for both kids and adults, without pandering or resorting to double entendres or a barrage of pop culture references, expertly balances both action and character moments, and is filled with heart.

Even though I had been surprised by Meet The Robinsons, I still went into Bolt with low expectations. Once again, though, I was surprised. More than surprised, though, I was blown away. Five years later, I’m still every bit as impressed by the film. Though it may not reach the heights of some of Pixar’s greatest films, it is certainly better than some of their weakest (Cars, Cars 2). It is extremely enjoyable, not matter what age you are, and you will be hard pressed not to be moved by it. This film is definitely worth seeing for and Disney or animation fan.

Original theatrical trailer

Up next: The Princess and the Frog (2009)