BOLT — ** 1/2 — Animated feature starring the voices of John Travolta, Miley Cyrus and others; rated PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs)

The title character of "Bolt" is a canine television star that takes his artificially created, small-screen "reality" a little too seriously for his own good.

What makes that ironic is the film does the same thing. It's clearly trying to conjoin the lost-animal story from 1993's "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" with the animated superheroics of "The Incredibles" (2004) ... and with a little "Truman Show" (1998) thrown in for added effect.

But what it could really use is more humor. The digital comedy-adventure starts out pretty slow and never really finds its footing, especially in regards to its needed comic edge.

Also, the whole thing probably plays better in 3-D, since there were obviously a few scenes designed for that format.

As mentioned, Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is a pooch who, on television at least, has super-speed, super-strength and a very destructive bark. In real life, he's just a normal dog — albeit one that's pretty protective of his owner and co-star, Penny (the voice of Miley Cyrus).

However, the two have gotten separated. Bolt escapes from the Hollywood studio set and has wound up in New York City. Based on his television experiences, he thinks Penny has been kidnapped by bad guys.

So he's desperate to get back to the West Coast and is aided by an enterprising alley cat, Mittens (Susie Essman), as well as Rhino (Mark Walton), a slightly unhinged hamster that idolizes him.

In the meantime, Penny has begun shooting new episodes of the program with another canine performer, though it's clear that she misses her beloved, lost pet terribly.

This was apparently one of the projects that got Pixar chief John Lasseter's attention when his animation house became more heavily involved in Disney.

The computer-generated animation is first-rate and is nearly up to Pixar standards. But the script could have used more work. It's too heavy on action, particularly at the start.

Also, at times Travolta sounds bored, and Cyrus is not the most emotive voice talent.

Fortunately, their voice co-stars are more animated. Essman gets some of the biggest laughs, as does Utah State University graduate Walton, whose crazed hamster consistently amuses.

"Bolt" is rated PG and features some strong, animated violent content (vehicular and explosive mayhem, violence against animals, and some child-in-peril elements), some crude references to animal behavior, and brief drug content and references (poisons, toxic chemicals and a hypodermic needle). Running time: 95 minutes.

E-mail: jeff@desnews.com