Puss in Boots

I love the idea behind the character of Puss in Boots - a Latin lover and swordsman (with the voice of Antonio Banderas, no less) who seems to have no idea that he's in the body of a cat. The idea is funny enough itself, but is it funny enough to carry a movie? Well, not this movie, at least. I kept on waiting to get wrapped up in what was going on the screen, but the movie remains surprisingly lethargic and kind of dull. Puss in Boots (which serves as an origin story of sorts for the feline) just didn't work for me.

Those expecting a formula similar to the Shrek films where the character originated (rapid-fire dialogue, modern day jokes and references, peppy pop music on the soundtrack) will be disappointed. You'll also be disappointed if you're looking for any connection to the Shrek universe, as there is none. Instead, director Chris Miller (Shrek the Third) has given us an adventure story that mixes elements of the Zorro films, classic Spaghetti Westerns, and some fairy tale references thrown in to give it at least some loose relationship to the earlier movies. It's a great idea in theory, and I wanted to like this movie a lot more than I did. But it's surprisingly lacking in energy, and aside from one mild chuckle, I didn't find myself laughing at all. I guess jokes about cat behavior and their nature (which seem to make up a majority of the gags) don't get you far.

We learn the story of Puss, and how he was abandoned at an orphanage as a kitten. He was treated as an outcast by the other kids, but quickly befriended fellow outcast, Humpty Dumpty (voice by Zach Galifianakis). Humpty was obsessed with finding the magic beans that could grow a beanstalk leading up to the Land of the Giants, and the treasures it holds. Their friendship grew as the two became older, going on various adventures to search for the fabled beans. But, one fateful night, it all ended when Humpty attempted to rob a bank (he owed some thugs some money), and Puss became an outlaw for being associated with the thieving egg. Since that night, Puss has become a wandering adventurer, stealing what he needs from the evil and greedy, and helping the poor and oppressed when he can. He still searches for the magic beans, however, which he learns are currently in possession of the outlaw couple, Jack and Jill (voiced by Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris, respectively).

There is another adventurous cat seeking the beans, and her name is Kitty Softpaws (Selma Hayek), a master thief who is just as much of a romantic and as quick with a sword as Puss is. When the two join up, Puss learns that Kitty is working for his former friend, Humpty. The two rivals must put aside their past differences and work together in order to steal the magic beans from Jack and Jill, with Kitty's help. There are a couple of high speed chases, and a journey up to the Land of the Giants in order to steal the goose who lays golden eggs. It certainly sounds like a plot that should work, but Puss in Boots is never funny enough or imaginative enough. The new characters are not that interesting, Jack and Jill (despite game performances from Thornton and Sedaris) never come across as villains we can get involved with, and the whole thing seems surprisingly low key for an animated feature. There are some fun action and chases sequences thrown in, but they are separated by long periods where not much happens.

The film is certainly beautifully drawn and animated, as we have come to expect from Dreamworks, so there are some really nice images to look at. But that only takes the film so far. The main character, and Banderas' lively voice performance, also manage to only take things so far. Puss remains essentially a one-joke character here, just as he does in his supporting roles in the Shrek movies. I was hoping this film would maybe open him up a little as a character, but despite learning his background story, he gets very little development here. Maybe there's only so much you can do with someone like Puss in Boots. I hope not, because I really do love the character, and I wanted to love this movie. I found myself smiling quite a lot during the first 20 minutes or so, but then that smile faded as I started to wait for something to happen, and it never came.

In recent years, Dreamworks has released a string of very strong animated films including How to Train Your Dragon, Megamind, and Kung Fu Panda 2. Puss in Boots represents a small step back. I'm sure they'll find their footing again soon. And in case anyone's wondering, no, I don't want to see any of the other Shrek characters getting their own spin off movie.

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