Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Review
A flawless animated spectacle, that brings heart, pathos and imagination to a film that could have been dull and boring.
Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas) returns to the screen, this time on the verge of losing his 9th life. He doesn’t concern himself too much, however, until he runs across the merciless Wolf (Wagner Moura), who will stop at nothing to kill Puss. Forced to hide out amongst an array of lazy stray housecats, Puss buries his costume and goes into hiding. That is, until he hears of The Last Wish - a way for him to win back his nine lives. Together with therapy dog Perrito (Harvey Guillen) and spurned ex-lover Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek), Puss must race against the clock to track down the final wish, all the while trying to evade a trio of bears, an oversized factory owner, and the mysterious Wolf.
I’ll admit; I went into The Last Wish with rock bottom expectations. The Shrek franchise and subsequent Puss In Boots franchise had been done to death, I thought, and this would be another damp squib in the ever declining race to creative bottom from this studio. Imagine my shock, then, when the film was actually good.
Of the probably 600 times I have now told people in person to go and see the movie, I always say that they should imagine the animation of Into The Spiderverse, the hero pathos of Logan, crossed with the emotional payoff of La La Land. There’s something unique and beautiful about this movie, but also something familiar. It’s like a warm glove reminding you of a heartfelt message, while also delivering action and laughs in abundance.
The very first major fight, with Puss In Boots taking down a giant mountain man, is exhilarating and sets the tone for the action. The enemy Wolf is terrifying, whistling his tune in Man With No Name homage that is filled with thrilling fright. The battles between him and our titular hero have real stakes, and are delivered in a visual animation style that feels fresh, engaging and new.
Our main hero’s journey is also emotionally rewarding. His journey to the last wish, his relationship with his former flame Kitty, and his burgeoning friendship with Perrito, all strike a chord in our hearts. The shocking thing is that the side quest characters also have tremendous emotional payoffs - in particular Goldilocks and the Three Bears, whose tale of chosen family over birth family, and what we’ll do for our kids, will bring a tear to your eye (no wonder, when some of that group are voiced by the likes of Florence Pugh and Olivia Coleman).
Ultimately, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is a complete shock. It’s action-packed in a fresh and interesting way. It will make you laugh out loud, and cry real tears. It’s not just a good movie for kids, it's a great movie for adults, with an undeniable sense of cool. Check it out - you won’t regret it.
