“Bolt” starts off like an action movie, as noisy blasts surround a young girl and her dog, while they are being chased by some weird-looking creatures. However, the pooch saves the day in no time and we feel somehow relieved when we find out that the violent scenes are mere tricks and stunts used on the set of a television show. And Bolt (voiced with tenderness by John Travolta), the white German Shepherd, is the star of the program, but he is unaware of his celebrity status, as the producers of the series want his reactions to seem real and, thus, leave him to believe that he is, in fact, a superhero.

He thinks that he benefits from special qualities that help him fly or race vehicles and that he is the one to rescue his owner, Penny (Miley Cyrus), who is also his co-star, over and over again from the bad guys.

“Bolt” is the first animated film by the Walt Disney Company that was made in collaboration with Pixar’s creative mastermind John Lasseter, who helped the kid flick become a magnum opus of its own.

The dog gets into trouble when he is accidentally shipped from Hollywood to New York City, where he pops into Times Square as amazed as any other tourist who sees the Big Apple for the first time. When Bolt wants to bark out of the unknown place, he discovers that he has lost his superpowers, blaming Styrofoam packing for making them fade away. Therefore, Bolt has to get back home without any out-of-this-world help. He meets, nevertheless, other animals that he does not find extremely polite before befriending a discontented cat named Mittens (Susie Essman), as well as a hamster dubbed Rhino (Mark Walton), who spends his entire time watching TV and eating in trailer parks. He is a big fan of Bolt’s show and decides to give his idol a hand in returning to Hollywood.

During their journey, the three furry creatures bump into other members of the animal kingdom who know Bolt and appreciate him, thus boosting our heroes’ confidence.

In spite of the fact that the movie is not outstandingly original, it brings to light humor, cleverness and a charm many productions lack, even if they feature furry cats and dogs. It will surely inspire both kids and adults, notwithstanding its straightforwardness and simplicity. It knows how to strike happiness when it is needed and wit when the story becomes dull. “Bolt” has arrived in the right place and at the right time.