Bolt

Disney’s 48th canonical animated feature, directed by Chris Williams, was the 2008 film Bolt. Starring John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Malcolm McDowell, Diedrich Bader, Nick Swardson, Greg Germann, Susie Essman and Mark Walton, the film grossed $310 million. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature and the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film.

Bolt (Travolta) is a genetically altered dog with superpowers who fights alongside Penny (Cyrus) against the forces of Dr. Calico (McDowell). On TV anyways. In reality, Bolt believes his powers are real and the crew carefully hides anything that might reveal the truth to him. But one day, the crew chooses a cliffhanger plot, causing Bolt to escape and try to rescue her for real.

A lot of films and television series can’t get the trope of introducing a character to a new atmosphere right. But this film does well with it, especially in what it takes for Bolt to realize he really doesn’t have any powers. And even then, Rhino continues the charade, thinking Bolt’s still enhanced. Though, as with many Disney films, Bolt still manages to become a hero in the end by saving Penny from a burning building. Powers or not.

Mittens also has quite the interesting character arc. She’s an alley cat who believes humans can’t ever truly love an animal because her owners declawed her before throwing her out. She’s the streetwise mentor to Bolt, teaching him about the real world too. But when all is said and done, even she realizes she’s mistaken.

The whole concept of the plot is fascinating as well, taking the idea of The Truman Show and applying it to a dog. Granted keeping the façade up for Bolt is a bit harder because it’s a sci-fi/spy/action show. But they managed to do it, until the network executive showed up. And she’s the only real thing that can come close to a villain in the film. But she’s not evil. She’s just trying to make sure the network keeps all its viewers and nobody gets fired.

#43

Tinker Bell

Out of the newly retooled DisneyToon Studios came the Tinker Bell franchise. And the first film, Tinker Bell, released in 2008 starred Mae Whitman, Kristen Chenoweth, Raven, Lucy Liu, and America Ferrera. Released cinematically briefly at the El Capitan Theatre, it grossed $9.2 million and spawned a Nintendo DS adventure game.

                                                                                                        Born from the first laugh of a baby and brought to Pixie Hollow, Tinker Bell (Whitman) learns that her talent is to be one of the tinkers, fairies who make and fix things. Taught by Bobbie and Clank (Rob Paulsen and Jeff Bennett), her desire is to go to the mainland for spring.

In terms of quality, Tinker Bell is surprisingly not that bad. It has a pretty decent story in where Tinker Bell realizes that what she’s good at is where she’s meant to be. But it doesn’t get through her thick skull until she tries her hand at being a garden fairy, water fairy, light fairy, animal fairy, and a fast-flying fairy. This may seem like it’s an incredibly saccharine premise and that’s true, but the way the plot is handled actually makes it decent.

It’s not paced like a television show and actually has the stakes of a halfway decent children’s movie in Spring itself is almost ruined because of Tinker Bell’s desires to not be just a tinker. But it’s her near-genius skills as a tinker that saves the day.

I realize I’m coming off as incredibly childish in giving a decent write up to a film marketed for girls, but maybe that’s because I spent so much time watching those mind numbing sequels. But still, for what it’s worth, it’s not amazingly perfect. But it’s not downright awful either.

#69

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

The third film in The Little Mermaid franchise, a direct to video prequel, was released in 2008. Starring Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Sally Field, and Jim Cummings, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning was set before the events of the television series.

Devastated by the death of his wife, who died trying to save a music box, King Triton (Cummings) bans music from Atlantica. But 10 years later, Ariel (Benson) and her sisters (Tara Strong, Jennifer Hale, Grey DeLisle, and Kari Wahlgren) discover and underground music club.

While this film isn’t monstrously terrible like most of its other direct to video predecessors, it’s still not very good. The plot feels like a two-part episode of the TV series, especially in its idea of banning music because it reminds Triton of his dead wife. The villain’s ambitions also have the stakes of a TV show, mainly where she wants to be Triton’s second in command and conspires against Sebastian.

At the same time though, this actually WOULD be a great two-part series finale. But once again, Disney decided to go the route of more money. 

But this could all be forgiven if there weren’t so many stupid references and elements that really make this film toe the line of inappropriateness for children. The underground music club constantly plays “Jump in the Line” by Harry Belafonte. It might have been a great song in the 50s, but out of place in a children’s film. Then there’s Flounder yelling “I won’t make it in the slammer!” and calling Sebastian “The Original Rock Lobster.”

Fortunately, by this time Lasseter was in complete control. There'd still be dumb things in the future, but the age of mediocrity for Disney was largely over. 

#90