Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Over the years Dreamworks has lost its notoriety for being an animation powerhouse. Scrapping its all-ages, edgy stories in favor of appealing to younger audiences. The original fanbase of the animation studio is now adults, and it seems like they haven’t hit the right chord to usher in a new generation of fans. It has been 11 years since the first Puss in Boots and the Shrek franchise that ended in a flop but is still relevant in internet memes. It has taken a decade for the Dreamworks team to revisit the world of Far Far Away in a long-awaited sequel that revamps the entire Shrek franchise through Antonio Banderas’s sword-slinging cat.
Immediately jumping back into the world of Puss in Boots, the film gives the perfect reintroduction to the Spanish cat that feels like reconnecting with an old friend. The new animation style is in full effect with destruction and festivities. Picking up a few years after the first film, Puss finds himself at the top of life until he is hit with an existential crisis when he learns he has one life left. For the first time in his life, the invincible Puss is now fearful of death as it follows him around in the form of a wolf. To keep a low profile, Puss moves into the stray cat haven of Mama Luna where he will waste the rest of his last life as an actual cat. Hope is brought to him as he discovers there is a wishing star that will allow him to get his life back if he finds it. He is not the only one hunting down the star, a collective of characters including Goldilocks and the Three Bears and “Big” Jack Horner chase after him. Add in Puss’s old Flame, Kitty Softpaws, to further complicate his task. Puss, Kitty, and a scrappy dog Perro join forces to embark on a vibrant journey to get the star before their enemies do.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is the literal wishing star Dreamworks has needed to fill the large gap created by its popular franchises ending. Waiting over a decade to continue the story of Puss and his world was well worth the wait because this sequel delivers in every aspect. One of the most notable improvements is the animation style that is an into the spiderversification of Shrek with its changes between 24 and 12 frames to match the confidence of Puss. The new style embodies the essence of who Puss is and allows it to take on a western style fitting the story of an aging hero facing death perfectly. Two styles of animation are combined, 2D hand-drawn and CG, that blend seamlessly together. This change makes the animation feel so exciting to watch as well as allows more creativity for the filmmakers behind the story to take the iconic character to gorgeous landscapes audiences haven’t seen before. It is very comic book-esque that puts its audience right in the middle of the action through dynamic camera movement. The darkness of the film makes it an outlier of Dreamworks Animation’s filmography by showing a visualization of the terror that haunts Puss. The entire film is a gift for visual storytellers to pick up on different gags and details on multiple watches.
Animated films have been lacking recently with casting non-voice actors into leading roles. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish successfully avoids this by bringing back Antonio Banderas who has never been better. He adds new layers to his character as he is experiencing emotions for the first time in his life. There is a sequence where Puss has a panic attack about his destined fate and it is handled with so much empathy by Banderas’s voice choices mixed with the imagery. The new mix of characters from Florence Pugh, John Mulaney, and Olivia Colman are the perfect castings as they can bring their personalities into their roles that fit the context of the story. For having so many characters, the script fleshes out each villain giving them their moments to shine. Whether it's Goldi and her family or the wolf and Puss, there is a lot of depth in these character decisions. Jack Horner is a traditional bad guy, but everyone else is given a chance for the audience to understand their desires or care for them.
Directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercardo take a bold and more mature approach that has been absent from recent Dreamworks titles. This is not your average family movie sequel, created for a cash grab and to spark theme park rides and merch. It is not afraid to get deep in its messaging of mortality. There are stakes to Puss’s mission that build tension up to the film’s climax. While the story is maybe predictable, the route it takes never feels repetitive and caters to the spirit found in the early Shrek films. It perfectly balances comedy with an emotional core that gives the film a soul. For a sequel, this doesn’t try to copy its predecessor it is indulgent in being it is own which leaves optimism for the future of Dreamworks. The last few seconds after the title card will send Shrek fans over the edge with pure enjoyment.
11 years was well worth the wait for this animated masterpiece about making the most out of our lives and spending time with those we love. This has become the blueprint for how to do an animated sequel that is not lazy but has heart and purpose. It is easily top-tier Dreamworks that will work with any age of moviegoer with its smart but not intimidating nature.
Dreamworks is back baby.