Disney does dogs well and 'Bolt', in all its 3D glory, is no exception. Having enlisted the help of Pixar creative boss John Lasseter, Disney has earned a pass into the playground now dominated by Dreamworks.

The film opens with a sequence of fast-paced chase sequences which, making full use of the 3D technology, bounce off the screen and leave the audience panting for more. Unfortunately the film then changes gear, and while the tale that follows is very sweet, it lacks the high-octane energy which fuels the intro.

Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is a superdog with superpowers. At least, he thinks he is. He is actually part of a TV series in which is he repeatedly required to rescue his 'person' Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus), with his 'superpowers'.

Believing that Bolt will put in a more authentic performance if he believes the action is real (think: 'The Truman Show' for dogs) the pretentious director has ensured that the dog has never experienced life outside the film set.

When studio execs decide to change the format of the show and leave an episode on a cliffhanger (Bolt is unable to rescue Penny from the evil green-eyed guy), the dog freaks out. He escapes from his trailer and, in his attempts to rescue Penny, accidently gets shipped off to New York.

In the Big Apple, he enlists the help of a savvy stray cat called Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman) to find his way back to Hollywood. Along the way Bolt discovers that he doesn't really have superpowers. Luckily, however, they encounter a hamster in a Plexiglas ball called Rhino who, having caught every episode of 'Bolt' ever produced, is a true believer in the powers of the little white dog.

Circumstance, Rhino's faith and the love of Penny conspire to turn Bolt into that which he always thought he was — a hero.