Bolt

Bolt (2008). I didn’t catch Bolt when it was here on the big screens late last year. The trailer seemed pretty blah – something about an actor dog who genuinely believed he had super powers, a psychotic hamster, and a very thin-looking cat.

My interest in it only came about because there was a demo-LCD TV at the Challenger outlet at Hougang Mall screening snippets of the animated picture, and it seemed interesting – sort of. That’s when I looked up the show again on IMDB and was surprised to see a 7.5 / 10 rating for it. A show with that rating can’t be all that bad.

So, the show got rented over the weekend. And surprise surprise – it was a pretty OK picture. Nothing especially memorable, but a pleasant way to spend 90 minutes on a Saturday evening. Ling coo-ed and squealed at the film’s beginning scene when Bolt is a cute puppy picked up in a shop by Penny, to whom he develops a loyal and loving relationship towards.

The psycho hamster, Rhino, is still there, and is a critter who genuinely believes Bolt possesses those powers of the super dog he portrays on-screen. He got some of the best lines in the show and reminds me a little of Po the Panda and his hero worship. The third animal to round off the trio is Mittens, an alley-cat who can’t believe her luck in getting involved with a delusional dog, has some heart-warming scenes late in the film when she teaches Bolt all the things he should have learnt as man’s best friend.

The voice work was OK, with a special nod to Susie Essman and Miley Cyrus who did the voices for Mittens and Penny respectively. The pair of men are OK, though I thought it would had served better if Rhino’s psycho turn was a little less sedate. Story is straight-forward from start to finish with no surprises.

What was really striking too was the paint-work liked imagery in the background scenes, especially of the mid-west as the three take a road trip from New York to Hollywood.

On balance; not reaching the greatness of Ratatouille or Kungfu Panda but still worth at least a rental.:)