Movie: Puss in Boots
Production Company: DreamWorks Animation
Director: Chris Miller
Producers: Joe M. Aguilar, Latifa Ouaou
Scriptwriter: Tom Wheeler
Main Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris
Release Date: October 28th 2011 (US)
Running Time: 90 minutes
Certificate: PG
Introduction
Now with Puss in Boots 2 sweeping through cinemas at the minute, why not look back at the film which started it all: Puss in Boots? So not only was Puss in Boots a massive critical hit but also made $550 million which naturally warranted a sequel. And that came a mere 12 years later and it was pretty great. So, without further ado let’s get into my review of the film.
Synopsis
Puss in Boots follows the titular Puss in Boots (Banderas) as he rejoins his old partner, Humpty Dumpty (Galifianakis), and romantic interest Kitty Softpaws (Hayek Pinault) in the quest to retrieve magic beans from the outlaw couple Jack (Bob Thornton) and Jill (Sedaris). And all of this is to retrieve the golden eggs from a giant’s castle. So, naturally nobody has any ulterior motives for stealing the eggs involving a giant goose destroying the town. Anyway, the funniest part of the story is the fact Oscar winning director Guillermo Del Toro voices the militia captain trying to get Puss for crimes he didn’t commit. So really the film has something for everyone to enjoy….
Analysis
Antonio Banderas’s Performance in Puss in Boots
To start my analysis of Puss in Boots, why not start with the performance of its lead star: Antonio Banderas? And naturally it’s a very fun performance which picks up exactly where he left off in Shrek 2. Take for example his chemistry with Salma Hayek Pinault’s Kitty Softpaws when they first meet. Here, you really can’t help but be enchanted by Banderas’s vocal performance. This is because he does what a lot of people probably would around a girl they like.
Also, this is very typical of his performance throughout the film, incredibly smooth and slightly enchanting. This is because he makes the audience fall in love with Puss. And I’m not just talking about the bar fight where he goes all adorable kitten to distract people. No wonder Puss in Boots got a sequel with a smooth and entertaining performance from its lead star.
World Building in Puss in Boots
Continuing my analysis of Puss in Boots, I’m going to discuss the film’s world building. Oh and how it could eventually pay off after the sequel: The Last Wish. Now even the first film establishes the giants castle and Jack and Jill as an outlaw couple that could be revisited in later sequels as I’m sure Puss and Kitty will end up in prison at some point if a third film gets made. Anyway, more evidence of this is all the legends of plot devices that keep recurring in the Shrek and Puss in Boots films.
Anyway, it also establishes Puss’s backstory within the world of Puss in Boots and Shrek as an orphan outlaw who saves a town yet still ends up being hunted by the law. So that’s great to see in terms of keeping Puss embedded in that universe. Also, as with the sequel there are plenty of little jokes and references to Shrek which will always help pop the audience who will more than treasure Shrek and some of the sequels that it spawned. So credit to Puss in Boots for a solid little universe with plenty of room for development once the sequel had the inevitable run in China.
Salma Hayek Pinault’s Performance in Puss in Boots
To conclude my analysis of Puss in Boots, I’m going to talk about Salma Hayek Pinault’s performance as the enigmatic Kitty Softpaws. Now similarly to Antonio Banderas, Hayek Pinault delivers a very fun and charming performance. Again take the scene where she bumps into Puss for the first time and they proceed to have a dance off. And they didn’t even invite Chris Pratt who seems to be in everything these days…. Anyway, here Hayek Pinault genuinely makes Kitty seem enchanting to the point where Puss lets her get away with the crucial plot macguffin. However, if you’re rewatching this or have any clue about films you’ll probably be waiting for the exact moment where Kitty betrays Puss.
And honestly why wouldn’t you trust someone you’ve only just met and who’s been hired by the guy who’s already betrayed you once? Honestly maybe sort your friends out Puss… Anyway, while the betrayal is unshockingly inevitable it does make some sense in the context of the story. And also Hayek Pinault is superb here as she plays the guilty accomplice to a tee, which then leads into a fun fight sequence but that’s beside the point….
Summary
To summarise Puss in Boots, this is a fun, well animated film which adds to the universe built within Shrek. Oh and it’s got some great performances like Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek Pinault amongst others. Now go and check the sequel out while it’s out in cinemas because it’s just as good. Hopefully it doesn’t take 12 years for another sequel……
Overall Rating: 6.5/10 – Okay
Target Audience: 10+
Content Warning: Mild Violence and Gore, Mild Frightening and Intense Scenes, Mild Alcohol Drugs and Smoking
Recommendation: Yes
