By Abigail Chai, Staff Writer
*spoilers*
Eleven years since his first appearance on the big screen, Puss in Boots made his highly-anticipated return to theaters on December 21, 2022 in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The film instantly saw huge success, both critically and commercially. It quickly surpassed its $90 million budget, grossing over $215 million worldwide. Critics were quick to praise the film, many claiming the movie’s superiority over the first film. Being Dreamworks’ third top rated film, it sits at a 96% critics score and 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. These high ratings were a surprise to many due to the large time gap between the film and its predecessor, and questioned if a sequel was even necessary. Shortly after the launch of the first film, Dreamworks started working on the sequel and planned to release it in 2018. But due to restructuring, Dreamworks shelved the project for several years. At last in 2019, the studio confirmed the film was underway.
The movie revolves around Puss in Boots, a fierce, daredevil cat, who discovers that his adventurous life has taken its toll and he’s at the last of his nine lives. In hopes of fully restoring his nine lives, he goes on a journey to find the mystical Last Wish for the Wishing Star, that will grant him any singular wish that he desires. In a race against other well-known fairytale characters– Goldilocks,the Three-Bears, and “Big” Jack Horner– Puss partners with a shelter dog, Perrito, and estranged ex-girlfriend, Kitty SoftPaws, to find the Last Wish, all the while trying to outrun the character Death. Staying true to the prequel’s original cast, Anotonio Banderas and Salma Hayek return with exceptional vocal performances as the voices of Puss In Boots and Kitty Softpaws respectively. There are also plenty of new voices, such as Florence Pugh, who plays Goldilocks, and John Mulaney as Jack Horner, who along with other newcomers fully embody their new roles.
Along with its thrilling plot, the film especially shines through its animation style and quality. While staying true to the classic, photorealistic 3D animation that Dreamworks has been using since 1998, it also incorporates 2D aspects that make the film look more like a fairy-tale. The film’s animation is often compared to that of Sony’s 2018 Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse and the 1988 Japanese film Akira- which was cited as a source of inspiration. Joel Crawford, the director of Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, wanted to incorporate more personal touches of hand drawn animation that is typically found in traditional anime, as he was trying to reduce the use of computer animation. He adopted a more painterly style design which proved effective; much of the film’s praise has been for its artistic decisions.
The trailer depicts the movie as light-hearted and comical in tone, but within the first few minutes of the film, it becomes clear that there’s much more being dealt with than just some crazy adventure towards finding a magical wish. Very early on in the movie, it’s clear that Puss grapples with his mortality, struggling to come to terms with the inevitable end. He spends the movie running in fear from Death, desperate to restore the lives he once lost. In his own selfish desires, he puts his friendships on the line, willing to lose them if it means he can live his life as a famed hero once again. However in a change of heart, he learns to face Death head on, pushing aside his one chance at immortality. While Puss lives to see another day after his battle with Death, he comes to terms with his mortality that he once dreaded. He embraces life as it comes, learning to focus on the beauty of the present. And while the movie mainly focuses on Puss and his run from death, it isn’t afraid to dive into the motives of the other characters. The turmoils of Kitty Softpaws and Goldilocks are explored and we learn that these inner struggles are also what fuels their desire for the last wish, which they all plan on using in their own selfish ways in hopes to alter their lives for the “better”. Similarly to Puss, they find peace with the life they have and the people they’re with.
After watching the film, it’s safe to say that the movie absolutely lives up to its success. It’s a refreshing new addition to Dreamworks and could possibly set the path for visually more unique films within the company. The movie is both action-packed and humorous, yet especially touching in several aspects. Following years of an undeniably strenuous development process, every bit of labor proves worth-it, as it’s clear to see the pure passion put into every second of the movie. And while Puss is at the last of his several lives, it’s evident that his story is nowhere near over.
