Bolt, Mittens and Rhino in "Bolt"
courtesy of Disney Home Entertainment
“’The Truman Show’ With A Dog In the Lead”

Maybe they should have gotten Jim Carrey to voice the role of Bolt in the new animated film “Bolt” since there is a lot of similarity to “The Truman Show.” Instead they got John Travolta to voice the part and he gives the dog a good personality.

The story has the dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) rescuing his person Penny (Miley Cyrus). He does this often as she is constantly being pursued by a green eyed man. The thing is it is all for a TV show but Bolt doesn’t know this. He is in the same delusional world that Carrey inhabited in “The Truman Show.”

One day Bolt is worrying about Penny being safe and he gets loose from the trailer where he lives on a soundstage. He ends up out on his own and eventually in New York. He meets a cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton). They team up to cross the country and find Penny.

Mittens is aware that Bolt is delusional and goes along with it, but Rhino buys into it all – even the alleged super powers. They make an odd trio but their friendships are strong. Individually they may have some weaknesses but together they are invincible. Or so they think.

The strange thing about this movie is the story paints a picture of Penny and Bolt being overworked and never able to have a normal life. Disney is notorious for its child actors, Miley Cyrus included, so aren’t these filmmakers undermining the studio system that Disney is and has always been.

Mark Walton’s Rhino steals the show. He has the best lines and the most expressive features. He is manic and dynamic at the same time. Essman also scores as Mittens. She has a wise delivery that suits the lone feline in the film. Travolta and Cyrus are okay but sort of bland.

At a running time of nearly two hours this film is a bit taxing for smaller children. Some of the middle adventures could have been scaled back with no loss of entertainment value. Still “Bolt” will undoubtedly amuse and charm kids and keep parents from fidgeting too much. Plus the beauty of watching it on DVD mans you can pause and restart after the smaller children take a break.

This isn’t the best animated film ever made but it is okay entertainment. Yet I still wonder why Disney didn’t realize the storyline knocks the very “star system for children” they have in place.

“Schoolhouse Rock! Earth” is the title of a new DVD that educates kids about environmental concerns. Interplanet Janet and Mr. Morton join a host of other characters to teach and entertain kids about the potential dangers to the environment. They address recycling, global warming, solar energy and other important activities.

All of this is done with music and songs. Plus it is presented in a way that is entertaining to kids as well as absorbable. Earth Day is April 22 and this is a DVD that will highlight some of the events planned for that time.

The Playhouse Disney series has featured the ever popular “Bunnytown.” Now you can get “Bunnytown: Hello Bunnies” on DVD and let your kids enjoy the characters and songs in a lively skit filled adventure. Since Easter is coming and we are all going to be ultra bunny aware this is the perfect DVD for kids.

And with all things Disney there are morals included in the story and skits. So this is a good DVD as well as an entertaining one. You will get it all here – Super Bunny, Pirate Bunnies, and Space Bunny. Yes the gang is all here and so should your kids.

Another adventure is included in “Lilo & Stitch: 2-Disc Big Wave Edition.” The story is about a little Hawaiian girl and the alien creature she discovers. He causes all kinds of craziness on the island. But on this DVD you also get behind the scenes features about the making of the movie as well as some deleted scenes. Plus there are some music videos included.

Kids love the “Lilo & Stitch” movie and all these extras will just entertain them more.. So get this one too and make your kids very, very happy.

Ricky Gervais is one of the funniest men alive and he proves it in “Ricky Gervais: Out of England.” This DVD presents his concert performance at Madison Square Garden. It was taped live for HBO and is shown intact on this DVD. It is a hilarious presentation of humor and one you will thoroughly enjoy.

Gervais is the man who created the TV series “The Office” in England and is now the creator/star of “Extras.” His humor is intelligent and laugh-provoking. Make sure you take the time to be entertained by this great comic. Get “Ricky Gervais: Out of England.”

Finally there is “Fling,” a DVD about love and all its complications. Brandon Routh, Courtney Ford, Steve Sandvoss and Shoshana Bush co-star in this tale of a couple with an open relationship who find themselves attracted to others. Can love survive the openness, watch the DVD and see. It is all oh so modern and oh so old fashioned too.

Plus this is a chance to see Routh out of his Superman tights and in a modern day ordinary role. Catch it.
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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