Bolt

Movie review by Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Bolt Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 5+

Super-dog adventure is fun, age-appropriate for kids.

PG 2008 96 minutes
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Parents say

age 6+

Based on 90 reviews

Kids say

age 6+

Based on 91 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Stands out for .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that kids are definitely going to want to see this animated adventure starring Miley Cyrus (well, her voice, anyway), even though it has nothing to do with Hannah Montana. There are some scenes of peril (explosions, hostage situations, evil cats) in the TV-show-within-a-movie, but after the first few action-packed minutes of the movie, it's made clear to the audience that it's all manufactured. There's also a tense, potentially scary fire during the movie's climax. But most of the movie's content is age-appropriate for its intended audience.

Community Reviews

Hickmbe
Hickmbe Adult
January 23, 2020
age 8+

What is wrong with this reviewer?

Common Sense Media normally it's pretty conservative with recommended age range but this one is completely off. I read the negative reviews and I thought it would get better after it unfolded. I guess the movie is trying to go for a Truman show vibe but as another reviewer noted kids don't have that context. What they see is a dad get kidnapped by a really scary guy. A dog purposely subjected to serious anxiety because he thinks his young owner is in mortal peril. And a girl who has no agency because her "agent" not her mother has authority in doing what's best for her daughter. Seriously my son who loves Spiderverse and wasn't phased has been spontaneously crying, scared his dad won't come he from work, and wants all lights in the house on. I read the reviews and thought my kid would be able to handle it and was so so so wrong. So please parents before you think your kid can handle it watch a few minutes by yourself before subjecting your kids to the potential trauma. Please Common Sense Media please reconsider your recommendation for 5 years old on this movie.

This title has:

Too much violence
2 people found this helpful.
doctora
doctora Adult
November 25, 2022
age 5+

A fun ride that exposes cliches

What a delightful film that lives up to the hype. The film has a great cast of supporting players, especially that hamster! He steals every scene he's in. Bolt is good (especially when he is sad and acting like a regular dog) but it is the cat that ultimately steals the show and shows us how be a friend and how to live within the confines of reality. A wonderful film that exposes what is fake, what is real and what we are willing to believe in. A combination of The Truman Show, the Good Feathers from Animaniacs and a whole lot of sentimental cliches. The only part that was disappointing was the ending...surviving that fire...really? But the tone, the jokes, and the general gestalt of the film is a fun ride.
See all 90 parent reviews

What's the Story?

BOLT (voiced by John Travolta, doing some of his best work in years) is a special dog who's trained to believe he's actually a crime-fighting dog with superpowers, rather than a canine actor. Since puppyhood, Bolt has lived only on the TV show's set and truly thinks his young owner Penny (Miley Cyrus) lives under constant threat from a mad scientist and his evil cats. When Bolt accidentally lands in a shipping box, he winds up in New York City, still under the delusion that he's all-powerful. With the help of a reluctant stray cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a feisty hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton), Bolt travels cross-country to find his beloved Penny.

Is It Any Good?

Travolta is surprisingly evocative as a dog with a brave exterior but sensitive spirit. It's also refreshing to hear Cyrus as something other than her self-promoting persona or her alter ego, Hannah Montana. The pair have a touching on-screen chemistry, as do Travolta and Essman, who's best known as Jeff Garlin's shrewish wife Susie on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. Toning down the edge in her New York accent, Essman's Mittens may remind viewers of a more assertive Jessie from Toy Story 2.

With John Lasseter installed as chief creative officer at Walt Disney Animation, Pixar's influence is noticeable in Bolt, and that's a good thing. It's not a Pixar film, but the revolutionary studio's meticulous attention to detail and dialogue are evident. There aren't too many wink-wink double entendres or inside pop-culture jokes -- just a simple story about a super dog who comes to terms with being super to the only person who counts.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what made kids want to see this movie -- was it the story or all of the advertising/marketing?

  • Do you prefer animated movies where the voices are done by celebrities? Why or why not? How is Miley Cyrus uniquely qualified to star in a movie about a celebrity who should be allowed to act normal?

  • What's the difference between reality and fiction? How was Bolt stuck in a fictional life? What does Penny think Bolt is missing by thinking he's actually a super dog? Why is Mittens skeptical about humans?

Movie Details

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    Thought-provoking story has some mature themes.

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