'Puss in Boots' Review (2011)
A fun animated adventure that avoids 'Shrek's pop culture trappings
Photo: DreamWorks Animation
I'm happy to say Puss in Boots is hardly a Shrek franchise spin-off. The titular character may have had his debut alongside the big green ogre back in 2004, but here he is more than just a smooth-talking, glassy-eyed sidekick. In his first headlining adventure Puss is a debonair, leche-sipping outlaw and unlike the Shrek franchise, the use of Lady Gaga's "Americano" is about as pop culture as this animated adventure gets, which is to say screenwriter Tom Wheeler recognized the failings of so many recent animated films and their reliance on pop culture in-jokes and decided story comes first.
The voice cast includes Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"Puss in Boots" is a DreamWorks Animation release, directed by Chris Miller and is rated PG for some adventure action and mild rude humor. The running time is 1 hour 30 minutes.
As they grow older the fruitless search is forgotten, leading up to the day where Puss saves a local elderly woman and in return is declared a town hero and given his sword, hat and boots. Humpty's future, however, is a bit grimmer. Consistently in and out of trouble with the law and unable to change his ways the once inseparable duo is ultimately tested when Humpty tricks Puss into robbing the town bank, a situation that ends in Puss fleeing the town where he was once a hero and is now an outlaw.
After years of being on the run, Puss is in need of adventure and as fortune would have it, the magic beans he and Humpty sought as children re-enter his life… as does Humpty. The oafish couple Jack and Jill (Amy Sedaris and Billy Bob Thornton) have the beans in their possession and Humpty insists he's hatched a plan that will not only secure the beans, but put the two of them back in good favor with the town of San Ricardo.
The possibility of returning home is enough for Puss to reluctantly join forces with the once-bad egg as well as Humpty's new sidekick, the stealth Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek).
Daring maneuvers, a giant goose, cliff-side thrills, a little swagger, a little flirting and plenty of innocent thrills later and you come up with a fun animated film. Banderas brings more life to Puss than we ever saw in the Shrek films (mind, I never saw the fourth one) and the film overall just has a certain energy you can't help but be entertained.
The animation and cinematography (the art design is beautiful in some instances) are top notch, Henry Jackman's score keeps things energized and the overall choreography of the action scenes, and even a couple of dance numbers, win big with the audience up to the thumping credits as Gaga's "Americano" ushers audiences out of the theater with a troupe of dancing strays providing visual embellishment.
I'll admit, I was skeptical walking in, but my enjoyment wasn't as a result of low expectations. This is a legitimately solid film and it's one of the more family friendly animated films I've seen in some time. As much as it isn't dependent on pop culture jokes, it also stays clear of potty jokes or sexual innuendo. It's nice to see some importance placed on story, because once you have an entertaining story in place the rest just tends to fall in line.
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i saw 10-15 mins of this back in august and i together with several hundred people roared with laughter many tears of joy n that was an audience of adults so i suspect this will be a very popular film with all ages
This must surely be a golden year for Dreamworks. Not that 2010 was any less brilliant with the fantastic How To Train Your Dragon.
I imagine Pixar are feeling a little less cocky at this point especially after the waste of time that was Cars 2.
I don't believe, like many people do, that Pixar is DEAD. However, if they DO go through with Toy Story 4, I unfortionately will have to agree.
DreamWorks on the other hand, is REALLY starting to pick up the pace with their QUALITY animated films.
Sure is gonna kick ass on the last two Shrek movies. They were horrible
Critic in my paper who adds a "3D or not 3D" to reviews said it was the best use of 3D technology since Avatar.
Im glad his movie did good he was always my favorite character in the shrek franchise ever since his "catnip" joke in the 2nd shrek movie.
Not only did Shrek the third make millions of dollars, as I was pointing out/predicting when everyone seemed skeptical, and was disrepecting Dreamworks, but that very fact is the reason this Puss & Boots movie exists. So anyone who enjoys this movie can thank the people who went to see Shrek the third.
That first sentence got away from me.