"Bolt" shows a flash of brilliance

When Pixar's John Lasseter — who directed "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life" and "Cars" — took over Disney's moribund animation studios two years ago, it seemed like a good idea at the time. These days, it looks like a stroke of genius.

Pixar's "WALL• E," directed by Andrew Stanton, was released earlier this year, prompting Oscar talk and underscoring Disney's wisdom in turning over the animation reins to Lasseter and his team. Now "Bolt" is here to show what a fusion of Pixar-inspired modernity and an old-fashioned (if updated) Disney adventure involving animal pals looks like.

Well, it looks very good. Smart, sharp, original and very funny, "Bolt" could be the model for a certain kind of midrange, nonevent (i.e., not "WALL• E") animated family film that would be more welcome right now than such bizarre junk as the recent "Fly Me to the Moon."

The clever story begins with an adorably pugnacious white shepherd adopted at a pet store by little Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus), who hugs the puppy and tells him he belongs to her now. Or does he?

Named Bolt (John Travolta), the dog grows up believing Penny is an action heroine and that he, her partner, possesses superpowers. What he doesn't get is that he's the canine star of a television show and that his preternatural gifts are really just production effects intended to trick him into displaying emotional authenticity.

As far as Bolt knows, Penny is in constant danger, and he has to save her. The reality is that he's an ordinary pooch imprisoned at a studio, and poor Penny isn't allowed by the show's producers to nurture their relationship, for which she yearns.

When Bolt is accidentally transported to the East Coast, he undergoes a cross-country road trip to find her. Along the way, he's joined by a cynical alley cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and an exuberant hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton). They help Bolt realize he has no powers except his natural courage and loyalty.

While rich in comedy, "Bolt" is anchored by authentic emotion in the best Disney tradition. (Dog lovers are particularly advised to bring Kleenex, though for sentimental, not tragic, reasons.)

With its appealing pastels, clean lines and general production gloss, "Bolt" evokes a pleasing, visual discipline charmingly undercut by mischievous performances. Two of the film's best moments involve trios of hustling pigeons — one group in New York, one in Los Angeles — whose comic shtick instantly cools feverish peaks in the story's drama. It's the movie equivalent of suddenly downshifting the action from fifth to first gear — a gamble that pays off wonderfully in this case.

Travolta and Cyrus both shine, but everyone, especially Essman and Walton, really delivers.

It's too soon to declare "Bolt" a mini-classic, but there's a lot in this movie to embrace. "Bolt" will be presented in 3D in some theaters. It's well worth seeking out this film in that enhanced format.

Tom Keogh: tomwkeogh@yahoo.com