Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Review: A Nuanced Winning Fairy Tale For Audiences Of All Ages
Shrek was the film that put DreamWorks Animation on the map and, for better or worse, convinced an entire industry to switch their attention from the old world charm of hand-drawn childrens films to the modern frontier of CGI animation. The sequel, Shrek 2, introduced something even more important: The Antonio Banderas-voiced, Zorro-inspired Puss in Boots, a swashbuckling ginger cat with a tiny sword, a smart pair of boots, and an adorable pair of enormous kitten eyes. He got his own movie in 2011 after the main Shrek quadrilogy was finished, and its long-awaited follow-up, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, finally debuts this year.
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The Last Wish continues the Shrek franchises tongue-in-cheek penchant for throwing popular fairy tale characters into the same world and seeing what comes out. Pugh voices Goldilocks with a gruff oi oi London drawl and Mulaney is a treat as violent manchild Jack, darkly intoning the nursery rhymes catchphrase What a good boy am I at a pivotal moment in the film. The Wolf is particularly frightening as an almost literal personification of Pusss deep-seated fear of death, appearing out of dark corners with glowing red eyes and a sinister whistle that makes the cats fur stand on end.
Puss In Boots 9 Lives Retcon Is A Sloppy Mistake
Given that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has only released trailers so far, it is possible that the spin-off will not contradict Shrek 2. The flashbacks to Pusss previous lives only showed his last moments before dying. Viewers could then argue that Puss identity does shift between each life, but the audience cannot tell with so little time to compare them. This would explain differences in Puss appearance, such as his large muscles in one flashback before dying in a weightlifting accident. However, Puss also died after being crushed by a bell at the beginning of the Puss in Boots 2 trailer, and his identity did not change at all, confirming that Puss nine lives are probably the latest Puss in Boots retcon.
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Review: Antonio Banderas Feline Hero Fights For His Life In Existential Sequel
More than a decade after Shrek prequel/spinoff Puss in Boots, the flamboyant feline is up to his old tricks but has yet to meet the computer-animated ogre whose party hes destined to crash in Shrek 2. As that series wore on, the Shrek franchise took on so many popular side characters that by the fourth outing, there was hardly room left to swing a cat.
A knee-high hero who walks, talks and swashbuckles upright, Puss was one of the few tagalongs rich enough to warrant his own origin story. Now, director Joel Crawford goes dark, bringing the fearless cat face to face with his own mortality. By forcing Puss to contemplate his priorities, the sequel more than justifies its own existence, while paving the way for how his path meets the big green guys.
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The stakes may be more serious this time around, but the films every bit as amusing as youd expect from the clever-as-ever team at DreamWorks Animation, which has had a bumpy few years, taking something of a back seat to Illumination over at Universal . Puss in Boots: The Last Wish marks DWAs best film since the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, reflecting some of the lessons learned on that series, including the notion that cartoon characters get a lot more interesting if theyre not immortal.
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Puss In Boots: The Three Diablos
A few days after saving San Ricardo, Puss is riding his horse in the deserto until he gets captured by Italian guards. He gets hired by the Princess to stop a criminal called The Whisperer and to do that she asks him to bring his three minions, called Three Diablos with him as they know where he is.
When he discovers they’re three cute innocent kittens Puss is surprised that they’re so infamous minions of The Whisperer but later he finds out about their devilish nature when they turn on him as they’re walking in the desert and bury him alive.
Puss survives and, using his cute eyes, captures them and tells them that he’s gonna bring them back to prison until he finds out they’re orphans, just like him.
Understanding that they got bertrayed by The Whisperer just like he got bertrayed by Humpty, Puss decides to help them going in the right path and gives them names: Gonzalo, Sir Timotheo The Third and Perla. Togheter, they fight The Whisperer and accidentally kills him when he falls from the cliff where they were fighting.
The three kittens becomes the new guards of the Princess and Puss says goodbye to them, proclaiming that they will not forget about him but before he can finish the guards close the door.
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish: The Shrek Spin
It’s been almost two decades since we first got introduced to Antonio Banderas’ Puss in Boots in the modern classic “Shrek 2,” and more than a decade since the character broke out into his own spin-off movie, but Puss in Boots is back and better than ever.
If you think we’re being sarcastic, think again. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is the best the franchise has ever been, at least based on the first half-hour of footage /Film saw at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Gone are the excessive pop culture references and needle drops, as well as the fart jokes even though there is a pretty good “step on me” joke in the first few minutes.
Instead, we get a shockingly somber, reflective, and visually stunning spaghetti Western about an aging cowboy contemplating whether there is still a place for him in the world except it’s a cat that wears boots and a little hat.
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The Last Wish follows the daring outlaw Puss in Boots as he discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll.
The original film, released in 2011, was a Shrek spinoff following Puss adventures prior to his debut appearance in Shrek 2. Puss in Boots made more than $149 million at the domestic box office, and close to $555M worldwide.
Talks of a follow-up go as far back as 2014. Puss in Boots 2: Nine Lives & 40 Thieves was announced in June of that year with DreamWorks Animation setting a November release date. It was delayed by a month before it was removed from the schedule due to restructuring at DreamWorks.
After many more internal changes, The Last Wish finally received a September 23, 2022, release date with Banderas return confirmed.
Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado serve as director and co-director of The Last Wish, respectively Mark Swift will produce. All three are part of The Croods: A New Age creative team.
The film is executive produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri. Universal is set to handle distribution.
The first trailer for the project will debut March 15.
Shrek Fans Love Puss In Boots
The Shrek spinoff proved to be a great success, grossing $149.3 million at the domestic box office and $555 million worldwide. The film also garnered awards attention, earning nominations for Best Animated Feature Film at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, respectively.
Plans for a sequel to Puss in Boots began as early as 2012, with work beginning on the project in 2014. Joel Crawford stepped in to helm the sequel, replacing Chris Miller, and he is joined by Januel Mercado, who serves as co-director. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish follows Puss in another adventure as he sets out to find the mystical Last Wish, which can restore eight of his nine lives. In addition to Banderas and Hayek, new performers lending their voices to the sequel include Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman and Ray Winstone.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish hits screens on Dec. 21.
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Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Is Coming This Fall
After over a decade away from theaters, the Shrek franchise is returning to the big screen this fall with Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. The spinoff is a sequel to 2011’s Puss In Boots, the last feature film we’ve seen from the franchise.
Antonio Banderas is set to return as the voice of Puss In Boots. The story will follow the titular swashbuckling cat as he looks to restore his nine lives, having already burned through eight of them. Banderas will be joined by Salma Hayek, What We Do in the Shadows’ Harvey Guillén, Black Widow’s Florence Pugh, and Big Mouth’s John Mulaney.
Hayek will play Puss in Boots’ former partner Kitty Soft Paws, and the two characters will have to reunite to stay one step ahead of Pugh’s Goldilocks. Other cast members include Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Samson Kayo, Anthony Mendez, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
The executive producer of Puss In Boots 2 is Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri. Back in 2018, we learned Meladanri was rebooting the Shrek franchise, which could eventually include a new Shrek movie.
Puss in Boots first appeared in 2004’s Shrek 2, and the character instantly became a staple in the Shrek franchise, appearing in Shrek 3 and Shrek 4 before eventually starring in his spinoff film. Back in 2011, we called the original Puss In Boots movie good, saying, “this new spin-off film will surprise you with its clever script and hearty adventurer’s spirit.”
What Parents Need To Know
Parents need to know that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish follows popular Shrek 2 character Puss in Boots on a new adventure that has even higher stakes. This time, eight of Puss’ nine lives have run out, and his focus turns to seeking the mystical Last Wish to restore them. Puss’ outlaw status makes peril a likely element in this movie, but it’s unlikely anything will be too intense. It seems to safe to anticipate the same high-level animation and heartwarming story elements viewers have come to expect from DreamWorks films.
- MPAA explanation: action/violence, rude humor/language, and some scary moments
- : November 29, 2022
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Swashbuckling adventure features irresistible warrior cat.
age 6+
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Nomadic dueler finds a home in comical, endearing series.
age 6+
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Antonio Banderaszorro Changed How Shrek 2 Approached Puss In Boots
John HopkinsShrek: From the Swamp to the Screen explores the astonishing production journey of making the Shrek universe happen. He talked with multiple folks behind-the-scenes, creating a full picture of the productions. The world almost had a very different incarnation of Puss in Boots, but Banderas involvement changed everything.
We were heading toward a more heavy cat,’Production designer Aretos said. A big strong cat, a bit badly behaved, weak and at the same time arrogant.
French illustrator Gustave Dorés 19th-century iteration of the character served as an early inspiration. This version showed a cat with a belt covered in dead mice hanging by their tails and a necklace with beaks and feathers. Aretos said, He was a very mean-looking cat, as soon as he jumped into his boots.
Aretos thought this visual approach, was interesting, but as we evolve the character there is new information always coming in. And with any creative process there is a self-definition of the creation happening in front of your eyes that you dont really control.
He continued that Banderas signing onto the project changed everything. That led us into a somewhat different direction, Aretos said. The cat became a little bit skinnier, a little bit nicer because Antonio Banderas is a very charming guy.
Hopkins book explained that Banderas performance as Zorro played into the Puss in Boots that exists today.
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Shrek 2 Puss In Boots Scene Transcript
Shrek: Well well well, Donkey. I know it was kind of a tender moment back there. But the purring-
Donkey: What are you talking about? I ain’t purring.
Shrek: Oh, sure. What’s next? A hug?
Donkey: Hey, Shrek! Donkeys don’t purr. Think I’m kinda-
Puss in Boots: Ha ha! Feed me if you dare!
Shrek: Hey, look! A little cat!
Donkey: Look out, Shrek! He’s got a piece!
Shrek: Its a cat, Donkey. Come here, little kitty, kitty. Come on, little kitty. Come here. Oh! Come here, little kitty.
Shrek: Get it off! Oh! Get it off! Ugh! Oh! Aah! Oh! Get it off!
Donkey: Hold still! Shrek! Hold still!
Puss in Boots: Now, ye ogre! Pray for mercy from…Puss…in Boots.
Shrek: I’ll kill that cat!
Puss in Boots: Ah-ha-ha! Hairball.
Donkey: Oh, that is nasty!
Shrek: What do you reckon we should do with em?
Donkey: I say we should take the sword and neuter right at him. Give him the Bob Barker treatment.
Puss in Boots: Oh, no! Por favor! Please! I implore you! It was nothing personal, Señor. I was doing it only for my family. My mother, she is sick. And my father lives off the garbage! The King offered me much in gold and I have a litter of brothers
Shrek: Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! Fiona’s father paid you to do this?
Puss in Boots: The Rich King? Si.
Shrek: Well, so much for Dad’s royal blessing.
Donkey: Oh, come on, Shrek! Don’t feel bad! Almost everybody that meets you wants to kill you.
Shrek: Gee, thanks.
Puss in Boots: Gee, that’s what the King said.
Donkey: Shrek!
Why Has Shrek 5 Been Taking So Long
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a great sign for Shrek 5s potential release, but that still begs the question of why the movie has been taking so long. As of right now, there isnt any information about its delay, but since the original announcement came shortly after NBCUniversal purchased DreamWorks Animation, it could be that the restructuring that went along with that caused it to be delayed. At the very least, with DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 4 and a new The Boss Babymovie in development, its clear that DreamWorks still intends on continuing established franchises, so the same should be the case for Shrek.
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Puss In Boots 2’s Animation Style Continues A Great Hollywood Trend
With the 2.5D style, as seen in the film’s trailer, it is clear that DreamWorks have learned the right lessons from Spider-Verse‘s success. Its visuals look like a modern storybook, recalling the hyper-stylized looks of Little Golden Books being blended into the visuals of past Shrek films. In addition, the characteristics of many characters have not been lost – rather, they have been enhanced in visually pleasing and often hilarious ways. One visual gag from Shrek 2 given an appropriate 2.5D counterpart, for instance, is Puss puppy eyes.
In addition, the 2.5D style, having been applied correctly, makes several scenes feel brighter with more dynamic lighting. Gone are the somewhat duller colors and visuals of Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After, replaced insteadwith ones that feel right at home with the original Puss in Boots and the first two Shreks. However, such brighter colors and visuals are not just at home with the original green ogre that Puss spawned from. Instead, they are right at home with the visually and tonally pleasing stylizations of similar films like DreamWorks’ own upcoming The Bad Guysand Pixar’s recent Turning Redand Luca. Intriguingly, while these films are a bit more niche, Puss is part of a larger franchise – something that might give the art style more exposure and further growth akin to that of Into the Spider-Verse‘s.
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