Bolt

This wonderful 3-D Disney animated film works on so many levels I scarcely know where to begin.

I'll start with the 3-D: It has already become so ordinary they don't resort to gimmicks in this film. And that's good, because if you see it "plain" there won't be glaring missed effects.

It's predictable. That's how children's movies should be. There's a certain security in knowing there will be a satisfactory ending.

The story is wonderful. It works on an adult level but never forgets that kiddies are the primary audience. The focus is on the love between a child and a dog; what could be more basic? Secondarily, it takes disparate characters, namely a cat and that dog, then literally and figuratively binds them together until they are forced to collaborate and solve their problems. The character development is flawless! The dog is naïve but means well. The alley cat is mangy, skinny and very, very resourceful. The hamster is the ultimate fan who absolutely refuses to recognize reality. The pigeons, both the "New Yawk" variety and the "La La Land" ones are hilarious!

Our hero, the television star "Bolt," expertly voiced by John Travolta ("Pulp Fiction," "Hairspray" and "Swordfish"), is a super dog in a weekly action series. His co-star is a little girl named Penny, voiced by Miley Cyrus ("Big Fish" and "Hannah Montana"). In order to get the best "performance" from the dog, the producers and directors have kept him from knowing that this is make believe, so he really thinks he has super powers. Of course, once he is separated from his human and finds himself a continent away from her, it takes a series of painful lessons before he finally "gets" that he is ordinary, but he knows that he still wants to be with her.

The alley cat Mittens, beautifully voiced by Susie Essman ("The Secret Life of Dentists," "The Man" and LOTS of television guest shots) has the onerous task of teaching Bolt how to be a REAL dog: the protocol of sniffing behinds, the joy of fetching sticks, begging for food and hanging his head out the window of a moving vehicle! Those scenes had me chortling with glee.

The dialogue is authentic, crystal clear (I heard every single word!) and is never confusing. The story unfolds in a logical way, the necessary lessons are learned (some of them the hard way), and sad bits are truly sad; but we get a happy goose-bumpy reunion at the end. Take your kids, your grandkids, your nieces or nephews, the neighbor's kids, the kids down the block, or slip into a weekday matinee when the kids are at school and enjoy it all by yourself!

I loved this movie!