The charming, self-absorbed, fear-defying, swashbuckling cat who befriended Shrek and Donkey is on the most important quest of his life in the animated comedy Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
We catch up with the milk-guzzling feisty feline (voiced once again by Antonio Banderas) while he’s throwing a party at the Governor’s mansion. The Governor arrives home early and is enraged to find the outlaw there. Puss in Boots leaps into action, taking on all the guards while helping the guests – his fans – escape. He even takes on a giant who he accidentally woke with all the noise and, of course, he’s victorious in battle.
However, while taking one too many bows while soaking in the cheers of his adoring fans, a giant bell falls on the cocky cat and kills him.
No need to be alarmed since cats have nine lives, right? But, oops, Puss finds out from the doctor treating him that he has used up eight of his nine lives. The doctor suggests Puss retire and he scoffs, “I am Puss in Boots!”
While venting to a barkeep over some thick cream, Puss is approached by a tall, menacing bounty hunter wolf (voiced by Narcos‘ Wagner Moura) who is interested in collecting the price on Puss’s head. Puss once again dives into action, but for the first time in his many lives he feels his fur stand up on end and realizes he’s afraid of losing…and dying. To make matters worse, the bounty hunter is the best Puss has ever fought. The wolf seems to know his every move and even takes Puss’s sword from him in the fight.
Scared and now unarmed, Puss runs away and seeks refuge with a cat-obsessed woman whose house is overpopulated with felines. There, Puss meets a mangy dog named Perro (voiced by Harvey Guillén, What We Do in the Shadows) who’s trying to pose as a cat for the free food and companionship. Perro instantly likes Puss – even though he has never heard of him – and becomes his unwanted/uninvited sidekick.
A few days later, Goldilocks (voiced by Florence Pugh, The Wonder) and the three crime bears family (voiced by Ray Winstone, Olivia Colman, and Samson Kayo) arrive at the home looking for Puss. It seems they’re on a job looking for the mythical Wishing Star and need his assistance.
Puss realizes this mythical object could fix everything for him and sets out on a new quest to find the star ahead of Goldilocks and her bears. Puss is certain he can use it to wish his nine lives back.
Early into his quest, Puss comes across his former girlfriend and foil, Kitty Soft Paws (voiced by Salma Hayek, House of Gucci) who is also after the Wishing Star for herself. After humbling himself and asking for her help, the two join forces and begin to work together to find the star, with Perro tagging along.
Full of sword-fighting adventure and breathtaking animation, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a fresh, humorous, exhilarating, and action-packed adventure that breathes new life and brings the fun back into a tired and worn-out franchise. The voice cast does a fantastic job of bringing these hilarious characters to life.
Antonio Banderas once again shines as the voice of the suave, life-loving swashbuckling feline. In this outing Banderas adds real emotional depth to the character, with Puss experiencing fear and regret for the first time. It’s impossible to imagine anyone else ever voicing the heroic feline.
Harvey Guillén steals every scene voicing Perro, the eternally optimistic but naïve mutt who desperately wants to be a therapy dog as well as best pals with Puss. He’s more than just comic relief; he’s a truly lovable sidekick.
Florence Pugh, Ray Winstone, Olivia Colman, and Samson Kayo are terrific as the voices of grown-up Goldilocks and the three bears. Their motley crew is a dysfunctional but incredibly loyal family who steals together and fights amongst themselves more than they do with their enemies.
There are plenty of stirring action scenes, including the opening sequence with Puss taking on guards and a giant, as well as lots of humor, with Puss and his pals tossing out one-liners. There’s also a hilarious montage of just how Puss lost his eight lives.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish also works in wonderful messages for kids about not running away from your fears but instead facing them and the strength and need of family and people you can trust in your life. Fortunately, the messages are delivered without ever getting preachy or too heavy-handed.
With stunning animation, an excellent voice cast, and exciting action, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is not just one of the best animated films of the year, it’s one of the best films of the year – period.
GRADE: A-
MPAA Rating: PG for rude humor, language, action/violence, and some scary moments
Release Date: December 21, 2022
Running Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
Directed By: Joel Crawford
Studio: Universal Pictures
