"A" Rating by Robert W. Hammerle

If the wondrous "Bolt" is any indication, the marriage of Pixar and Walt Disney will be a long and successful one. This is simply a sensational movie experience, all the more so if you take some children and let this magic wash all over them.

Like the rightly acclaimed "Wall-E" earlier this year, one demeans "Bolt" by simply categorizing it as "great family entertainment." It is far more than that, and stands as a significant movie in its own right.

Bolt (John Travolta) is a dog who believes he has superpowers simply because he has been raised in the insular environment of a Hollywood Studio. Starring in his own TV show, he is called upon weekly to perform heroic, death defying acts to save his beloved Penny (Miley Cyrus).

However, things go awry when Bolt finds himself accidentally shipped to New York, where he is not only forced to hit the streets, but also to come to grips with the extraordinary realization that he is an ordinary dog. There are some hilarious moments along the way to Bolt's self-realization, as Bolt is reluctant beyond words to confront the obvious.

Finally forced to confront the ugly reality that he is a continent away from his beloved Penny, he sets out on an adventure that is far too precious to describe, much less to give away. Suffice it to say that he is initially accompanied by a streetwise alley cat named Mittens, voiced by the sarcastically profane Susie Essman of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" fame.

However, as good as Essman is, and she takes great delight in poking a stick at Bolt's wavering super-dog ego, this movie is completely stolen by Rhino, the most effervescent hamster ever to appear on the big screen. This fat, furry little rodent is likely to become a movie legend.

Rhino, voiced by the Disney animator who helped to create him, Mark Walton, is "Bolt's" biggest fan. In fact, he has memorized all of Bolt's TV adventures. Spending most of his time confined in his plastic ball, his confidence in Bolt is as endearing as it is colossally funny.

As our three vagabond friends make their way cross-country, they learn valuable lessons about survival, friendship and loyalty. For example, in a scene that is as amusing as it is profoundly endearing, Mittens teaches Bolt the fine art of successful begging. As I watched it I could only think of the classic line by Skipper (Tom McGrath), the leader of the penguins in the first Madagascar film, "Cute and cuddly boys, cute and cuddly."

Particular mention should also be made of Bolt's comic encounters with a group of pigeons in both New York and Hollywood. Let me just say there is a distinct difference in the attitude of pigeons raised in Brooklyn as opposed to those living in la la land.

While I saw "Bolt" in its 3-D format, I don't think that you will be missing a great deal if you simply see it in the standard flat-screen theater. Unlike films such as "Beowulf" (2007) and the Christmas classic "Polar Express" (which is again playing at the IMAX in downtown Indy), the action scenes in "Bolt" are not so intricately tied to the force of the drama where you need to see it in 3-D in order to experience the full impact of the film.

Clearly, I loved this movie. While its central life lessons have been played out numerous times before, they seem fresh and alive as our furry three musketeers forge a genuine friendship. And who could possibly find anything wrong with a sweet story that also reminds kids that all animals deserve to be loved, even scrawny alley cats.

This is a movie with heart and passion, and it truly is a magical experience. It is guaranteed to leave you smiling ear to ear as you leave the theater, particularly when you look down at the kids and see them doing the exact same thing.