Movie: Puss in Boots The Last Wish
Production Company: DreamWorks Animation
Director: Joel Crawford
Producer: Mark Swift
Scriptwriters: Paul Fisher, Tommy Swerdlow
Main Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Harvey Guillen, Florence Pugh, Olivia Coleman, Ray Winstone
Release Date: February 3rd 2023 (UK)
Running Time: 102 minutes
Certificate: PG
Introduction
Ok hands up who saw Puss in Boots: The Last Wish being as good as it was? Despite being released 12 years after the first Puss in Boots, this is a sequel which more than lives up to expectations. Seriously this might be one of the best animated films in recent times and I don’t say that lightly. Also SPOILERS ahead. Anyway, let’s get into my review before I start heaping more praise onto the film.
Synopsis
Puss in Boots The Last Wish picks up several years after Shrek Forever After. It sees Puss (Banderas) officially onto his last life. Get it? Because cats have nine lives? Anyway, when he hears about a way to get back his past lives from Goldilocks (Pugh) and the Three Bears crime family he races to track down a map to the Last Wish. This then brings him into contact with his ex lover Kitty (Hayek Pinault). Oh and another villain Big Jack Hauser (Mulaney) who all have designs for the last wish. This obviously leads to some magnificent scenes of everyone trying to race to the wish. As everyone is desperate for something to change their lives for better or for worse. So without further ado let’s get into the analysis portion of the review.
Analysis
Antonio Banderas’s Performance in Puss in Boots The Last Wish
To begin my analysis of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, I’m going to discuss the performance of Antonio Banderas. Now Banderas’s voice is so soothing and fun to listen to which definitely helps his performance. Also the rest of the performance is very good with him once again Puss a wonderfully, self obsessed outlaw desperate to get his previous lives back. But where the performance is really great is in Puss’s evolution from a scared cat running from death to once again a fearless outlaw fighting death (or the big bad wolf).
Take the scene where he’s backed against a wall with Death staring him in the face and somehow Banderas makes Puss sound like an absolute badass as he fights off Death to survive. Honestly I would be lying if I didn’t cheer a little when Puss adjusted his hat and ran at Death with his sword because that was awesome and appealed to the inner child within me. But a seriously great performance from Antonio Banderas nonetheless.
Salma Hayek’s Performance in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Continuing my analysis of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish I’m going to discuss Salma Hayek’s performance as Kitty Softpaws. And just like Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek more than delivers a great performance. Take the scene of her and Puss tracking down the map after Goldilocks and the Three Bears take it. Here we see why she is struggling to forgive Puss: he walked out on their wedding day.
The emotion conveyed by Hayek as she climbs away from Puss makes you really feel for her as she struggles to put aside her feelings for Puss to help them find the map. Even if she never turned up anyway… Another example of this is the scene where Kitty overhears Puss talking to Perrito (Guillen) about why he ran away from his wedding day. This adds more emotion and depth to Hayek’s performance as she finally sees why Puss had trouble giving up his outlaw life for her. Genuinely, why are some of the performances in this film so good?
The Animation Style in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
To conclude my analysis of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish I’m going to discuss the film’s animation style. Now for a great example of this, look at the scene where Puss and Kitty are walking and paddling through forests. Genuinely the animation is gorgeous with lush shots of rainbow coloured trees with Puss, Kitty and Perrito sailing down the river. Also, the final scenes of everyone fighting for the wish on top of a star is quite frankly beautiful. Just seeing the star implode with everyone running off the star is another great animation choice.
Oh and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Puss’s final fight with the Big Bad Wolf, aka Death, inside a ring of fire arena really shows how nice the animation style is. Also, different note but props to Wagner Moura for a phenomenal performance as Death. Oh also the animation looks like something out of a Marvel comic, especially when Puss and Death run towards each other. Seriously impressive animation… Anyway, the obvious symbolism of the arena of fire combined with the well animated fight really shows that maybe it was worth waiting 12 years for a sequel. But seriously don’t wait another 11 years to make a third film…..
Summary
To summarise Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, this is a very entertaining and well animated sequel which was worth waiting 12 years for. Oh and with some top performances and a tease about Shrek crossing over in the potential third film will always go down well with fans.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10 – Excellent
Target Audience: 10+
Content Warning: Mild Violence and Gore, Mild Profanity, Moderate Frightening and Intense Scenes
Recommendation: Yes
