Walt Disney's Bolt blends a hysterical cast of animal characters, a heartwarming storyline, and cutting-edge animation to form the latest in a line of hits that both children and their parents can enjoy. While the story of the dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) will entertain children with the heroism of a dog who seeks out his "kidnapped" owner, Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus), adults will see similarities to the modern parable of Jim Carrey's The Truman Show. Sit back, relax, even break out the popcorn, and let this modern parable "speak" to you.

When Bolt and Penny's television show starts to sag in the ratings, the "evil" adult minds decide that the show needs some more angst, and have the child star "kidnapped." Bolt completely flips out and goes on the run to save Penny from the evil Dr. Calico (Malcolm McDowell). Our fearless dog meets up with the stray cat Mittens (Susie Essman) and the hamster Rhino (Mark Walton) on his way to find Penny, and serious hijinks ensue. Bolt doesn't really know how to be a dog—he only knows how to be a super dog, thanks to the special effects of television production.

Of course, adults will see coming that Bolt will finally encounter his own mortality, and recognize that he is not in fact a super dog. But with the help of Rhino and others, Bolt may in fact recognize that dogs can be super. Children will see the way that enemies can become friends, like Bolt and Mittens, and that little hamsters like Rhino can be the kind of hero that they've always dreamed of being. In rather spectacular fashion, the cartoon parable liberates our own inner hero and helps us dream of being more than we really are.

In the first of two major turning points, provided by the gang that Bolt has gathered to himself, I find the liberation of the inner self: Bolt finds out who he is behind the mask, or rather what it means to be a real dog. Bolt can't see who he really is until someone shows him, and that's a lot like my understanding of God's provenient grace. We can't see our sin or how we really are, but God's love shines through our lives and we recognize that we are fallen and we need God's grace. We couldn't be liberated from our sin until God shows us who we are and liberates us, the way that Rhino and Mittens (two unlikely characters) liberate Bolt. But once liberated, Bolt can be the dog that he's always wanted to be: a super dog.