Review by Jonathan Hickman
Director: Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, John Mulaney, Wagner Moura, Samson Kayo, Olivia Colman, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Ray Winstone
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Available in wide theatrical release
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is the sequel we didn’t know we needed. With a fairy tale-inspired animation style that differs from the more realistic look of the previous “Shrek” films, this second theatrical outing for the title feline distinguishes itself from other franchise offerings.
When Puss (Antonio Banderas) vanquishes a giant monster threatening a village, a large bell crashes violently down on top of the swashbuckling hero. The shocking death is met with some joking when the famous cat breathes again, looking no worse for wear. But this death, his eighth in his lifetime, is cause for alarm. Puss in Boots is on his last life.
After a visit from a frightening bounty hunter named the Wolf (Wagner Moura), Puss realizes one more death might really be the end of the line. And Wolf is more than capable and plenty happy to usher Puss into the nether world.
Determined to stay alive, the eternally self-absorbed Puss hangs up his hat and cape, burying them in the yard of Mama Luna (“Only Murders in the Building” star Da’Vine Joy Randolph), with whom he seeks refuge in his retirement. But an existence as a house cat proves to be a daunting undertaking. As the weeks pass, Puss grows a beard and gains a companion, a dog (Harvey Gullién from the series “What We Do in the Shadows”) masquerading as a cat.
But when retirement is interrupted by a call from Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and her three protective bears, Puss begins to rethink his choice to leave the adventurer game behind. He surreptitiously learns from Goldi that there is a wishing star out there that might restore his lost eight lives. Puss and his little dog then set out on a journey to find the magical treasure.
“The Last Wish” is excellent family entertainment. Banderas is in fine form delivering his character’s lines with droll confidence. Just the way he refers to himself, “Puss in Boots,” gets a recurring giggle. It rolls off the tongue infectiously, making it an instant earworm. And the story is populated with many colorful fairy tale-inspired faces that subvert their classic origins.
For example, “Little” Jack Horner becomes “Big” Jack Horner, voiced with an acerbic wit by comedian John Mulaney. He’s armed to the teeth with magical weapons retrieved at will from a bottomless nanny bag. And, naturally, his relentless henchman makes up the “Baker’s Dozen.”
But embedded with all the zany comedy bits is some effective pathos. Puss rekindles a romance with Kitty Softpaws (the voice of Salma Hayek, of course), and his faithful dog becomes his comfort animal as Puss copes with the anxiety associated with only having a single life left.
However, Florence Pugh’s Goldilocks might warm your heart. Since three rough-and-tumble bears raised Goldi, she’s lost something of her delicate human identity. And while the bears have done the best they can to accommodate the young woman, she longs to harness the power of the wishing star to return to her own kind.
Goldi’s relationship with her bear family is quite endearing. Olivia Colman and Ray Winstone are excellent choices for Mama and Papa Bear, which only adds to the depth of the bond. Even though Goldi and the three bears are initially revealed as thieving villains, it’s hard not to root for them. And when the film concludes, I suspect we’ve not seen the end of this foursome in any future installments.
“The Last Wish” borrows the animation style we saw earlier this year in “The Bad Guys,” which might remind viewers of the look of the Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” The images are very fluid and pleasing to watch and don’t have the strange, uncanny qualities that marked the earlier “Shrek” films.
With winning visuals and an engaging storyline, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” bodes well for more stories from Far Far Away.
