Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Even if Puss in Boots: The Last Wish doesn't rank among the very best animated films of the year, it's still a bright and sparkling entertainment that is miles above Disney's most recent effort, Strange World.  Its secret weapon is Antonio Banderas, who has never been better at portraying the dashing cat who is a hero, an outlaw, and all-around ladies man than he is here.  The movie successfully gives new layers to his classic portrayal, while also giving Banderas plenty of opportunities to show his humor.

This is a lively and joyful film that finds Puss facing his own mortality.  After a rousing battle with a massive rock giant (a sequence that is thrilling in how it is animated), the cat learns that he has used up almost all of his nine lives.  With a wolf-like grim reaper (voice by Wagner Moura) hunting him down, Puss is forced to go into isolation and prepares to live his remaining years the pet of a crazy cat lady (Da'Vine Joy Rudolph).  Fate has other plans, as it turns out that Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears Crime Family are seeking Puss to do a job for them.  Having Goldilocks and her Bear henchmen (who are voiced by Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone and Samson Kayo) act like British mobsters from a Guy Ritchie caper film is just one of the brilliant ideas the screenplay has.

The mobsters are allied with the notorious Jack Horner (John Mulaney), who holds a secret grudge against fairy tale characters, and has been capturing and collecting magical artifacts over the years to make him powerful.  Now he's come across a map that can lead to the legendary Wishing Star.  Realizing that the Star can grant Puss more lives, the cat swipes the map, and goes on his own quest, reuniting with his ally from the last Puss film Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek), and newcomer Perrito (Harvey Guillén), a wannabe therapy dog who just wants a friend.  The adventure that the three unlikely friends embark on is not exactly original, but it's filled with some truly laugh out loud moments, and a fast-paced animation style that draws on both traditional CG animation and Japanese anime during the battle sequences.

And while this may be Banderas' show (and rightly so), the supporting voice cast is just as wonderful, getting off some wonderful and often hilarious line readings.  Puss in Boots has the same satirical quality to it as the Shrek films that inspired it, and uses it in such a way that will appeal to both kids and adults.  The movie is surprisingly action-heavy, and not afraid to kill off the henchmen that Jack Horner employs in his quest for power (in bloodless and fantasy-based ways, obviously), and remains constantly thrilling with how fast paced and exciting it gets at times.  It at least manages to create some real stakes for its lead hero, as the villain is truly playing for keeps here, and doesn't care who or what gets in his way.  But beyond that, the movie has a genuine heart as Puss is forced to truly evaluate the life he has led, and what is truly important to him.  

All of these elements took me by surprise, and added to my enjoyment.  It manages to be thrilling, truly funny and thoughtful in different ways, creating an entertainment that is rewarding and thought provoking.  It doesn't pretend to be anything beyond an animated blockbuster, but it also has more on its mind than you expect walking in.  Director Joel Crawford also gets off some stunning individual moments throughout that truly grab the eye.  There is a life here that I just did not detect in Disney's latest animated offering just a month ago.  Strange World had some great images, but a story, script and characters that were about as bland as cardboard.  This grabbed my attention early, and refused to let go.

My wish for The Last Wish is that families will turn out for this in the presence of the Avatar juggernaut currently choking theaters. (Walking through the halls of my cinema, I counted that one movie playing on some six different screens.) At least with this, you don't have to kill almost an entire afternoon to watch it.

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