"Bolt, speak," Penny commands. The canine steels himself, setting his feet, and unleashes a bark that creates a sonic shock wave devastating everything in its path. And Bolt has saved the day again. (If Penny fell down a well, Bolt could use his heat vision to turn the water to steam and save her or something like that. Lassie, eat your heart out.)

But Bolt doesn't really have a superbark, and he doesn't really have superpowers. He's the star of "Bolt," a hit TV show, and his owner, Penny, is an actress.

Bolt is living in his own version of "The Truman Show." If the dog believes it, the director explains, the audience believes it. Everything is done in one take in order to keep the illusion alive. Everything Bolt thinks is real is part of the TV show - his superpowers, the bad guys and Penny's kidnapping.

You see, the big bad lady from network comes in and claims 18- to 35-year-olds are unhappy with the episodic nature of the show. Bolt always saves the day, and that's apparently boring. (Immediate side note: 18- to 35-year-olds are really the key demographic for a show about a little girl, her kidnapped scientist father and her dog with superpowers? Whatever.)

So the director ends an episode with Penny's capture by the bad guys. Bolt doesn't realize that she's OK, of course, and wants to save her, so he busts out of his trailer and ends up being shipped across the country.

The challenge for Bolt, as he tries to make his way home, isn't just adjusting to life without his superpowers; he has to learn how to be a normal dog.

"Bolt" (the movie) features some great action sequences, especially from "Bolt" (the TV show in the movie). I could have watched 90 minutes of our canine hero mowing down the bad guys with his eye lasers.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a real TV show in development that would feature Bolt with real superpowers, something akin to the video game based on the movie. I doubt John Travolta would lend his voice to Bolt on a regular basis, but I can only imagine what Miley Cyrus, who voices Penny, is contractually obligated to do for the House of Mouse.

TV action sequences aside, "Bolt" has a lot of heart and a lot of hilarity. Bolt's two cross-country adventure sidekicks, Rhino the hamster and Mittens the cat, add a dash of insanity and a dose of cynicism.

But while the traveling trio may provide most of the laughs, the relationship between Penny and Bolt is the real heart of the movie. It's not hard to see why Penny fell in love with the little rascal at the pet store. Audiences will, too.

* review

'Bolt'Starring: Miley Cyrus, John Travolta

Directors: Byron Howard and Chris Williams

Run time: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Rated: PG, for some mild action and peril

Now playing at: Crossroads, College Square, Waverly Palace

4 stars out of 5