Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

"Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" is as spry and light on its feet as its titular feline. The inherently alluring paradox of the swashbuckling kitty from the "Shrek" universe remains firmly in place 11 years after his first solo feature. He's a dashing adventurer, a charmer with the ladies, feared and renowned throughout the land -- but he's also unbearably adorable as he laps up milk from a shot glass with his pinky, sandpapery tongue. As always, the charismatic and sensitive Antonio Banderas finds just the right tone in exploring this furry animated figure's suave and silly sides. "The Last Wish" expands the roster of ridiculously talented supporting players from the Oscar-nominated 2011 original "Puss in Boots." Joining Banderas and his longtime friend and co-star Salma Hayek Pinault are Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and John Mulaney, among many others. They bring a surprising amount of substance to what might have been a purely playful endeavor. But of course, the fast-paced humor and elaborate visuals are the main draws of director Joel Crawford and co-director Januel Mercado's film. The film's aesthetics may rely too heavily on anime influences, especially during the action sequences, but the vibrant colors and rich textures are a delight. From the moss growing on a fearsome forest giant to the shiny silkiness of Puss' whiskers blowing in the wind, "The Last Wish" offers a variety of eye-popping details. And it frequently features dramatic shadows and subtle dissolves to transition from past to present or one scene to the next. But the film also manages to convey messages of selflessness and teamwork in a way that doesn't feel heavy-handed or cloying. And the stellar voice performances and dazzling visuals keep things so engaging you won't need a laser pointer or a catnip-stuffed mouse toy to entertain you.

FYI, surprisingly, kids understood jokes aimed at adults. Yes, there are spots of the movies where it's hard to know what they understand because ideas aim at us adults. But, I think the kids still understood it enjoyed the deeper parts.

Personally, the movie was very fitting. Like Puss, I'm also trying to find out who I am and who I want to be in life. This was our journey.

The stories have great connections romantically, between rivals and newcomers. The stories are about bringing all of us together despite what happened in the past. The stories come together about building a better future for ALL OF US. Let go of selfish wants and desires, focus on OTHERS and let's work together for a better future!

A delightful animated film that offers fast-paced humor, elaborate visuals, and strong voice acting from a talented cast. Antonio Banderas once again brings charm and depth to the titular character, and Harvey Guillen steals the show as the sweet and enthusiastic Perrito. The dynamic between Puss, Perrito, and Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek Pinault) is engaging and adds substance to what could have been a purely playful endeavor. The film's anime-influenced action sequences are visually striking, and the use of dramatic shadows and subtle dissolves helps to smoothly transition between scenes. Overall, "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" is a fun and visually appealing adventure that is sure to entertain audiences of all ages.

I genuinely cannot believe I'm saying this, but this is one of the best movies of the year, so far, it's neck to neck with The Menu for me.

Incredible on every front.

The animation is incredible. I'm beyond thrilled that Dreamworks decided to ditch the hyper-realistic animation style, and just went for a style that would perfectly represent the emotions and craziness that this movie needed.

The characters, EVERY SINGLE ONE, was so fleshed out, and they all felt like they had a purpose being there. We didn't get the usual Shrek style, Grimm fairytale cameos for no reason, on the contrary, they all played an important role in the story, and in the overall message.

This movie also had me so emotional, no spoilers, but it's the way the creators handle their characters, with such sincerity and heart.

Finally, the action, and the plot itself, it was go go go from the get go, i haven't seen a more well paced film all year, i think that is my favourite part of the dilm (Avatar 2 could take some notes)

Overall, it was truly such a blast, so fun, heartfelt, FUNNY, genuine, with a great message at its core.

I can't say I expected this from a Puss in Boots sequel 12 years later. The Last Wish is a true standout feature of 2022 and one of the best animated films in some time.

The new art style, clearly inspired by Spider-Verse, feels right at home in this world. I love how it blended the typical CGI look with the new, more hand-drawn style. That combined with some top notch humor and an incredibly emotional story makes this a terrific watch. The film is very singularly focused on Puss's arc, leading to some very satisfying story beats. I had a wonderful time watching this movie and I can't recommend it enough.