Review: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – A Fun DreamWorks Return

The Shrek movies had a big impact on pop culture, giving everyone a fun twist on classic fairytales and comedy from 3D animation. But the Shrek sequels also gave us various side characters with the potential to spin off into their own stories away from the big green ogre. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is an example of how this works out well, giving us a unique plot that is still set within a familiar world we already love. If you love slapstick comedy and a few classy innuendos, mixed in with a mature tone that doesn’t overpower everything else, then you’re going to enjoy seeing what happens to this feline hero. Just don’t expect any crazy Shrek cameo before going to see it, this is a story focused solely on Puss in Boots, which works out for the better.

The plot of The Last Wish finds Puss in Boots going on adventures in various towns and building up his legend, only to hit a major snag that nearly shatters his world. As a cat, Puss in Boots has used up a good number of his nine lives during his escapades, which brings him a harsh reality check with the physical embodiment of death. After being scared straight, Puss in Boots hears about a fallen star that could grant any wish, which could restore all his nine lives. So he sets out to find the fallen star and crosses paths with many enemies and allies along the way, including a number of new fairytale characters we haven’t seen before.

The tone of the film is fun but isn’t afraid to edge close to serious and mature, especially when the topic of death is brought up. Everything is fun and games until the harsh reality sinks into Puss in Boots, but the movie never lets one or the other become the central focus. A lot of this is due to the fantastic job that Antonio Banderas brings as the voice of Puss in Boots, offering an incredible range of emotions and witty banter to the heroic feline.

There’s always a great response and delivery from Banderas both in the action scenes and when things slow down. Luckily, he has a great supporting cast to play off with Salma Hayek as Kitty Softpaws and Harvey Guillen as Perro. When the three of them are finally together, the movie really starts to pick up momentum. The heartfelt moments between them are great but are complemented by the bigger moments as the story reaches a climax.

The other characters in the movie are good, but only a few stand out as much as Puss and his allies. John Mulaney plays a rotten version of Jack Horner that gets even more unlikable as the movie goes on. Not in the way you might think, however, as Mulaney gives Jack’s voice equal parts malevolent and goofy businessman. We end up hating Jack Horner for the right reasons throughout each of the big moments of the movie, not because the character is poorly made.

But the other side characters that provide a great side story to the main plot are Goldilocks and the Three Bears, who act as secondary foils and a misunderstood family. Their backstory will resonate with many who can relate to why they end up standing opposite of Puss in Boots, especially toward the latter half of the movie. It’s hard to describe why that is without spoiling, but rest assured it’s something that many families who watch The Last Wish will really appreciate.

One surprisingly good thing about Puss in Boots is the action sequences. For a series that leans heavily on the comedic aspects, the fights and big action scenes are a step up from previous films. The sword fights that Puss in Boots finds himself in are fun to watch, with a lot of cool shots and great shifts in perspective. Puss is not only a great fighter, but the quips and one-liners from Antonio Banderas make them all the more fun to watch. Most of the time, there’s a lot of movement happening on screen in the foreground and background, but you’re never distracted from the central part of the action.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is still set within the Shrek franchise, so do any other characters from those movies make an appearance? While there’s no Shrek and Fiona to be found, a few other side characters do show up briefly. They don’t have a significant impact on the plot of the movie, but it is nice to see that they’re still running about in this world. However, the final stinger of the movie will definitely be something that fans will appreciate, both as a promise and a fun nod.

Whether you’re someone who has watched all the Shrek films or not, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish will be a fun movie to watch. It doesn’t lean heavily on one’s knowledge of fairytales or anything related to the Shrek movies to get its jokes or enjoy this story. The jokes a goofy, the action is solid, and the plot is interesting overall. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a fun reintroduction to this world with a charismatic character that lands safely on his feet.

Have you gotten a chance to see Puss in Boots: The Last Wish yet? What do you think of the Shrek movies? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!