movie review
Puss in Boots
Antonio Banderas is one perfect puss
I realized while watching Puss in Boots how much I’ve missed that Shrek-type animation – you know, where the characters are so detailed they practically jump off the screen. Then again, that’s easy to do with Puss in Boots, who makes full use of his adorably huge eyes to get what he wants.
The story is actually a Shrek prequel in which we learn of Puss in Boots’ humble beginnings. Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) begins life as a cast-off who’s taken in by a kind woman named Imelda (Constance Marie) who runs an orphanage. There, he befriends Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and earns his signature boots as a thank-you for saving the town from disaster.
Puss and Humpty meet the beautiful cat burglar Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek, who has tons of chemistry with Banderas even in animated form – they worked together in Desperado). The trio team up to steal magic beans from the conniving Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris).
When planted, the beans produce mammoth vines that grow into the sky, where Puss, Humpty and Kitty find the golden goose and her magical golden eggs. But not all of the friends’ motives are pure, and they each must decide whether to take the path of righteousness. Something happened between Puss and Humpty early in life, and Humpty’s been dragging that baggage around with him forever.
Unlike the ensemble Shrek movies, this one is really all about the character Puss in Boots. Director Chris Miller has a long history with the franchise; he directed Shrek the Third, voiced the characters of Geppetto, Magic Mirror and others, and served as writer and storyboard artist. The success of Puss in Boots drills home how important it is to have someone in charge who really knows a franchise’s characters and stories.
Antonio Banderas milks his Spanish accent to the max and, in the process, fleshes out the charming but roguish character we first met in the Shrek movies. Yet the supporting characters add enough freshness and fun to make you forget this is indeed a prequel. Sedaris and Thornton are hilarious with their Southern drawls, and Galifianakis is perfect as Humpty.
Puss in Boots is one of those entertaining kids’ movies that adults will like, too. The filmmakers aren’t just phoning it in – they’re creating interesting characters and meaningful storylines with good pacing. The great takeaway for kids (and yes, adults) is that even though Humpty and Puss have some baggage in their friendship, there’s always a chance to make things right.
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