For a bit of context: because of how I set my schedule up this semester, I have no classes on Wednesdays. This is pretty awesome, but being bored, my friends and I looked for something to watch at the good old movie theater. But what to watch? I’d already seen “Avatar” and “M3GAN,” and “Corsage” looked boring. The only option was “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.”
We sat in a nearly empty theater, and as the lights dimmed, the reality of the situation dawned on me: I was an adult going to see “Puss in Boots 2.” However, despite my initial reservations, I am pleased to report that this sequel, eleven long years in the making, is absolutely fantastic and easily superior to the original.
The film is a stand-alone sequel; you do not need to watch the first to understand what’s going on. That works in its favor, seeing as it has been over a decade since the first film’s release, and that wasn’t the most memorable movie of them all.
The film features an all-star cast, with Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek reprising their roles from the original.
Photo courtesy of DreamWorks Animation
It features an all-star cast, with Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek reprising their roles from the original, as well as Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone and John Mulaney all joining the ranks. Pugh, Colman and Winstone, along with up-and-coming actor Samson Kayo, play Goldilocks and the Three Bears, who in this universe are bounty hunters, while Mulaney plays Jack Horner, a fairy tale character I had never heard of before. Both race Puss in Boots for the Macguffin of the film, which is a fallen star that grants wishes.
Another welcome addition to the cast is Harvey Guillen, who plays Perrito, a lovable dog sidekick. Characters like this tend to be either standouts or major annoyances, and thankfully I found him adorable. He’s funny, Guillen’s voice acting is strong and I think he’s a great addition to the movie.
Another welcome addition to the cast is Harvey Guillen, who plays Perrito, a lovable dog sidekick. Photo courtesy of DreamWorks Animation
The movie has a pretty intense plot for a kids’ movie, which hinges around Puss in Boots, a cat, being down to the last of his nine lives, and his quest to win them back while trying to outrun the literal embodiment of Death. Yes, we have had animated children’s movies about death before (Pixar’s “Up” definitely talked a lot about the grieving process), but I think this might be the first animated picture I’ve seen that is wholeheartedly about mortality and the inevitability of death.
Now I’m sure I just made this movie sound incredibly bleak, but it is a Puss in Boots movie after all. Despite some pretty heavy themes, the movie has a lot of well-written jokes, as well as a bunch of slapstick to keep you entertained.
One of the best features of “The Last Wish” is its improved animation. The animation from the first movie, as well as the original “Shrek” series, has not aged badly, but there’s a certain quality to the newer style that is a significant improvement. It’s as if they took the original animation and slapped a “Spider-Verse” filter onto it. It pops, and I hope this style keeps being used.
Mulaney plays Jack Horner.
Photo courtesy of DreamWorks Animation
With this and “The Bad Guys,” I think it’s safe to say DreamWorks is doing great and might honestly be the most promising animation studio there is right now. I look forward to seeing more adventures from these characters in the future.
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is currently in theaters.
