Puss in Boots: The Last Wish movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

This delightful animation is now playing in theaters.

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 1 hour 40 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: A-

IN A NUTSHELL:

Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burned through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

The co-directors of the colorful Dreamworks film are Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. The screenplay was written by Tommy Swerdlow and Paul Fisher, based on the story by Tom Wheeler.

THINGS I LIKED:

We had to wait 11 years since the last Puss Boots movie came out in 2011. Was it worth it? Most audiences are saying yes.
Antonio Banderas is awesome. He can do it all: drama, comedy, musical. I love how he really exaggerates the Spanish accent from Spain. I lived in Spain for a couple of years and adore that beautiful country and its people. I laughed out loud when he properly pronounced “Gazpacho” with the Spanish theta.
He and Salma Hayek make a natural pairing with their comedic timing and Hispanic accents.
Listen for the voices of these talented actors: Florence Pugh, Academy Award-winner Olivia Colman, comedian John Mulaney, Harvey Guillen, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Samson Kayo, Ray Winstone, and Wagner Moura.
I laughed out loud so many times. There is so much animated humor, as well as spoken humor.
This addition to the Puss in Boots franchise does a great job of reminding us that Puss isn’t just a suave fighter, but an actual cat. There’s a cuteness battle between Puss and Kitty that makes for another laugh-out-loud moment.
The opening sequence is full of action and humor. What a way to start off a movie in a strong way!
The sequence that shows how many times Puss in Boots died is hilarious.
Due to the almost non-stop action, the movie has a palpable energy.
We see an interesting mixture of 2D and 3D events, keeping things interesting visually, as well as creating a more adventurous look.
The story includes several groups of people who are all after the same prize: the ultimate fairytale prize of a wish. The filmmakers explained they were influenced by the famous Western movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from 1966. Each set of characters has its own story arc with meaningful lessons to be learned along the way.
I loved the sweet moment when a certain character started to have a panic attack and was able to calm down by simply petting a soft dog. Therapy dogs serve a real and valuable service for many people who need extra support.
I hope this addition to the revived Shrek universe means we’re going to see some more of these fun characters soon.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Parents might get a headache from all the chaotic noise and action.
Some of the voices didn’t match the characters’ designs.
Too many villains and characters to keep track of.
It’s sad to watch Puss in Boots wilt under the pressure of imminent death.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

This is a movie that all ages will enjoy!
Alcohol
Cartoon violence
No profanity. There are a few times when various characters begin to swear but their words are either shushed or bleeped out.

THEMES:

Courage and fear
Risk
Family
Panic attacks
Death
The value of life
Take time to smell the roses and appreciate what’s right in front of you

FUNNY LINES:

“Me, retire? Are you the village comedian as well?” – Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas)
“What? Did I say something salty? It’s my second language.” – Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas)
“So, this is where dignity comes to die.” – Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas)
“Wanna rub my belly?” – Perro (Harvey Guillen) “Hard pass.” – Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas)