Puss in Boots (1 & 2)
PUSS IN BOOTS (U)
After winning over hearts in Shrek 2, Puss In Boots gets his own spinoff movie, which, unless you're 8-years-old, may be a little bit disappointing.
Much like Shrek, it's a mishmash which draws off various fairytales, but the story is over-convoluted for no particular reason (especially considering this is supposed to be a kids film), pitting the swashbuckling cat against Humpty Dumpty, who used to be his friend, but is now a rival who aims to grow a giant beanstalk with beans he stole from Jack & Jill, so he can steal the golden goose, etc.
Overall, the animation is very good, but it lacks comedy aside from the occasional "ha ha, he's Spanish", "ha ha, he's a cat" and "ha ha ha, he's a Spanish cat".
It also seems to tell kids that breaking and entering is an acceptable act of bravery. Okay, but nowhere near as enjoyable as the first couple of Shrek movies.
PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH (PG)
D: Joel Crawford
Universal / Dreamworks (Mark Swift)
US 🇺🇸 2022
102 mins
Animated
W: Paul Fisher & Tommy Swerdlow
Mus: Heitor Pereira
voices of: Antonio Banderas (Puss In Boots), Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws), Harvey Guillen (Perrito), Florence Pugh (Goldilocks), Olivia Colman (Mama Bear), Ray Winstone (Papa Bear), John Mulaney (Big Jack Horner)
A superior sequel to the 2011 Puss in Boots, which itself was a spinoff from the Shrek movies following the character’s introduction in Shrek 2 (2004).
Antonio Banderas resumes voice duties as Puss, who has gone through 8 of his 9 lives & embarks on a quest to find a magical star so he can continue his swashbuckling cavalier lifestyle.
Uniting with ally Kitty Softpaws once again, though he is pursued by a host of others who also want to use the star’s powers: Goldilocks & the three bears, ‘Big’ Jack Horner and even Death himself.
Brilliant animation and a story that will appeal to both adults as well as the child audience that would be its target demographic. This is the film that the first one should have been.
7/10
