My Hotpoint Aquarius dishwasher is doing exactly the same. The water starts to bubble as it get's hot during the cycle, but no water sprays out.
I'm guessing a valve has stuck because the pump gets the water out, but doesn't circulate it.
Is there just the one pump?
I've opened up the top, back and side, but it's very difficult to get at things or work out what they do.
Michael, October 2011