Even when a movie is so predictable you know what's going to happen even before you step into the theater sometimes makes for an entertaining movie.

Bolt doesn't really push any boundaries when it comes to story telling. It's an enjoyable movie made for kids. I left the theater satisfied. It does have its problems which I'll get into but I would suggest taking your kids to see it in theaters while they can watch it in 3D.

About the 3D for just a second. Never mind the confusion that these type of movies were once referred to as "3D animated" movies but the 3D is more of a gimmick. It does add an element to the movie but doesn't really add a great deal. If you had the option between regular and the 3D presentation you could go for either and enjoy the movie equally. You aren't missing anything if you see the regular presentation. The technology is better than the old-fashioned red/blue (red/green?) glasses and it works rather well, it just didn't impress me that much.

The movie starts with Bolt as a puppy in pet store. He's the most playful and outgoing of the puppies which draws the attention of his future owner, Penny. She's scoops him up and immediately takes to him as the best friend she'll ever have.

Suddenly we're treated to a series of action scenes showing Bolt to be a super dog with all kinds of abilities such as head butting a speeding car, jumping over helicopters, super strength, super speed and a super bark that destroys everything within half a mile of where he stands. His partner in his crime fighting is none other than Penny, the girl who adopted him. Convenient.

I'm not sure exactly why he needs all those other powers since he has the super bark. Just use that in every confrontation. Potential property damage I suppose.

The story behind these abilities is cleverly explained to us with a scene involving a studio exec complaining that the show isn't appealing enough to an older age group, something like the 18 to 35-year-old audience. The director explains the extravagant things they go to so that Bolt is convinced his adventures are real. They want the real reaction from the dog in his efforts to protect Penny.

On the face of it this is clever and silly at the same time. Who in their right mind would even think this was a good idea? It was aching for a joke exposing the concept for the silliness that it is but it never came. The exec threatens to shut the show down if they don't raise the desired age group viewing despite the fact that based on the level of advertising in the movie's world that this has got to be the most popular show on TV.

An attempt to jazz up the show leads to a kidnap cliffhanger that convinces Bolt that Penny really was kidnapped. An attempt to rescue her causes him to get himself shipped to the other side of the country. Apparently he's a heavy sleeper as he doesn't wake up the entire trip.

As he discovers his plight he decides to head west to reunite with Penny. Along the way he picks up an alley cat and the most mentally deranged hamster ever. The cat was de-clawed and then abandoned to cause her to question her place in the world but not enough to not blackmail pigeons into bringing her food.

Oh yeah, the pigeons. The pigeons are ALMOST the Madagascar penguins of this movie. Almost. Just shy of reaching that potential but maybe a new short on the DVD can solve that.

The hamster is similar to Bolt in that he thinks it is all real. This leads him into believing he too can be a hero like Bolt and attempts to do things a normal hamster wouldn't dream of trying. If they could dream. The odd thing is that he goes through the entire movie believing this even when Bolt begins to question his "abilities." The hamster actually helps him learn that he can do heroic things without his powers despite the fact the hamster is a raving loon.

During his travels Bolt learns a few things about himself and the world he thought he understood. Turns out he's so oblivious to the outside world he doesn't even realize that he's on the other side of the country while the cat can read maps.

Once he returns to California he learns he's been replaced with a look-a-like that is essentially a trained dog. This is a major problem in the storyline. We are told the show goes to great lengths and expense to make Bolt think everything is real since he's apparently a method actor. But when things get tough he's replaced with a trained dog with no apparent issues. A throwaway line of how "this dog isn't the same" or "people are starting to notice and ask questions" would have been good. Just something, throw us a bone here.

"Throw us a bone..." HA!

At this point, actually much sooner, you should realize how things will turn out. Yep, it turns out the way you think. But like I said, it was entertaining. Not a Pixar movie (I'm biased) but it's an excellent effort.