When push comes to shove and life gets increasingly difficult as he makes the cross-country jaunt, Bolt slowly begins to realize that his “super bark” and every other cool trick he used to know aren’t exactly real. But thanks to the constant insight of the smart-alecky Mittens, who becomes an unlikely friend and readily proves to cat lovers that felines may indeed be smarter than their canine counterparts, Bolt starts embracing life as a “normal” dog. With Mittens’ encouragement, he sticks his head out the window to feel the wind in his fur. And he learns to fetch—and absolutely loves it.

Rounding out the animal pack (and seriously adding to the funny factor) is a scene-stealing hamster named Rhino (voiced by Mark Walton), who always travels in his plastic bubble and just happens to be quite the Superfan of Bolt. Guiding Bolt through what he’d do if he were back on the show, the unlikely trio eventually makes its way to Los Angeles—albeit with many struggles on the journey.

So will Bolt make his way back to Penny and the small screen? And what will become of Mittens and Rhino? Of course, I’ll never tell. But I will say this: Bolt is probably the best-looking Disney movie in a good long while. Crafted in gorgeous 3-D splendor, it’s a feast for the eyes complete with lavish attention to detail. And these engagingly drawn leads are only further enhanced with stellar vocal talent. Not only is Travolta a perfect match as the multi-faceted showbiz dog, but Cyrus shows a surprising range of emotion as Bolt’s beloved owner. That, combined with a humor-infused storyline, an emphasis on friendship and plenty of action-packed adventure, definitely keeps you engaged for nearly an hour and a half and provides families with a great holiday entertainment option. Now that’s something extra to be thankful for, right?

CAUTIONS:

• Drugs/Alcohol:  None.
• Language/Profanity:  None.
• Sex/Nudity:  None.
• Violence:  The PG rating comes from a few scenes of peril. In addition to Bolt being taken away from his TV family, there are several instances where the TV show bad guys are trying to hurt or capture Penny, Penny’s father and Bolt. To escape their clutches, there are long, tense chase scenes, explosions and multiple vehicles forcibly tipped over. Later on, Bolt playfully dangles Mittens at the edge of a cliff until she complies with his wishes.
  

  
Christa Banister is a full-time freelancer writer, specializing in music, movies and books-related reviews and interviews and is the author of two novels, Around the World in 80 Dates and Blessed Are the Meddlers. Based in St. Paul, Minn., she also weighs in on various aspects of pop culture on her personal blog. 

For more information, including her upcoming book signings and sample chapters of her novels, check out her Website.