--- title: "Bolt: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bolt/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bolt" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bolt (2008): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 14 reviews: 7 positive, 7 mixed, 0 negative. The consensus on Bolt leans favourable, with praise centred on its likeable characters, visual humour and gentle family comedy. The warmer reviews find emotional depth beneath the lively animation, while even several qualified notices enjoy the supporting cast. Rhino the hamster draws repeated praise for his comic energy, and Mittens earns recognition for sharp dialogue and unexpected warmth, with Susie Essman’s voice performance singled out alongside tender work from John Travolta. The divide concerns how much those pleasures compensate for familiar storytelling and uneven pacing. Reviews range from enthusiastic approval to faint praise, with none wholly negative; several see renewed confidence in Disney animation without finding the story equally accomplished. Variety doubts that parents will enjoy it as much as children and faults Bolt and Mittens’ argumentative exchanges, while other reservations concern underdeveloped comedy and a running time that feels longer than it should. ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2009. Bradshaw finds Bolt a terrific piece of simple entertainment and fun. He singles out its lovable, funny quality. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/05/bolt-disney-john-travolta-film-review-peter-bradshaw) ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating B+. 20 November 2008. Robinson praises Bolt as a welcome return to form for Disney animation. She singles out its lively TV parody opening and Pixar-like emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/bolt-1798205268) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. The critic finds Bolt an imaginative, family-friendly animated charmer. They praise its visual wit and gentle character comedy. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-a1kyfd/bolt/) ## Time Out — Wally Hammond Rating 4/5. 3 February 2009. Hammond finds it likeable, dynamic family entertainment. He praises its seductive characterisation. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bolt-1) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2008. Turan finds Bolt a sweet, smart family film with a welcome touch of Disney’s golden age. He particularly praises its humor and pleasantly wacky, idiosyncratic characters. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-nov-21-et-bolt21-story.html) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2009. O'Hara finds Bolt charming but uneven, with its Disney storytelling and Pixar-inspired touches failing to fully gel. She singles out hamster Rhino for bringing energy and comedy to the slower stretches. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bolt-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — The Associated Press Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2008. The critic finds Bolt a genial, enjoyable step forward for Disney Animation, though its story and comedy feel familiar and underdeveloped. They single out John Travolta’s tender voice performance and the film’s appealing digital 3-D. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/film-review-bolt-125094/) ## Screen Daily — Brent Simon Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2008. The page identifies this as a review, but the review text is behind a paywall. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/bolt/4042026.article) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2008. The article text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the page provided. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/movies/21bolt.html) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2.5/4. 18 November 2008. Schager finds the film amiable but uninspired, offering only faint admiration. He praises its colorful, dexterous animation and notes Mark Walton’s standout voice performance. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/bolt/) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2008. McCarthy finds Bolt an okay, uneven Disney animated film that should entertain young children more than their parents. He praises the 3-D presentation and Rhino’s comic relief, while faulting the argumentative banter between Bolt and Mittens. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/digital/awards/bolt-3-1200472217/) ## /Film — David Chen Rating 8/10. 21 November 2008. Chen finds Bolt a wholesome, emotionally affecting family film that comes close to Pixar’s standard but falls short. He praises Susie Essman’s performance as Mittens for bringing humor and unexpected depth to the film. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/501441/movie-review-bolt/) ## Eye for Film — Tony Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 December 2008. Sullivan considers Bolt good family entertainment, though not an animated classic destined to be remembered fondly. He praises Mittens, whose performance and dialogue steal the show, but finds Cyrus’s song tedious. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/bolt-film-review-by-tony-sullivan) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 3/5. 6 February 2009. Brew finds Bolt a fun, strongly animated family film that signals renewed confidence at Disney. He praises Rhino the hamster as a sparkling, very funny character, while noting the film runs too long and offers little for parents. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/bolt-film-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bolt.md