Puss In Boots The Last Wish Review! A Sleeper Hit!

If you told me that an animated movie about a swashbuckling cat would not only be one of the best movies of 2022, and be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Picture, I wouldn’t believe it. Even when going to see it in theaters, I didn’t expect much. After all, this was another sequel to a beloved but waning franchise. At face value, this looked like another cash grab. But after finishing this movie, I have to say, DreamWorks Studios put themselves back on the map with this one! Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is out now, starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillen, Wagner Moura, and more. The film covers the “legendary hero” and folktale character, Puss In Boots, as he is down to the last of his nine lives. While advised to retire from his heroics, Puss’s pride won’t let him. As it turns out, a legend of a fallen mystical star, granting anyone's wish has landed. It’s up to Puss In Boots to find this star and wish for more lives. However, he may have to contend with the mistakes of his past lives, first.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!! CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

So, I did NOT expect this movie to go this hard! Blending 3d and 2d animation for action scenes Spiderverse-style, to the humor the other characters display to the overall message of cherishing the life you have instead of wasting it. The Last Wish really didn’t have any weak points in the film. From the opening minutes, we’re treated to this big musical number, displaying why Puss In Boots is such a hero; stealing from evil kings, and slaying giants, all while doing it with style. The crowd loves him, as Puss has fallen in love with his own legend. Until it begins to backfire on him.

After his last death, Puss is told to retire, or his next death will stick. In denial, Puss refuses to heed his doctor’s advice…until a mysterious bounty hunter wolf arrives. With one of the best villain introductions ever, the bounty hunter plays with Puss, at first. Toying with Puss’s ego by wanting an autograph on a wanted poster. Puss laughs in his face, prepared for battle. Puss, however, learns the old adage that the more you mess around, the more you find out. The Wolf embarrassed Puss in a short fight, even drawing blood. Visibly terrified, the wolf introduces himself as Death. Wielding twin scythes, and showing blood-red eyes, Puss barely escapes and has no choice but to retire. Living with an actual cat lady, Puss meets Perrito and discovers that the legend of the wishing star is real. With renewed hope, Puss, Perrito, and Kitty Softpaws (Puss’s old flame whom he left at the alter) against the crime family of Goldilocks and The Three Bears to find the magic map and get to the star.

I cannot state enough how good this movie is. The action, the humor, the animation, it’s everything you could ask for in an animated flick. Also, from what I’ve heard, it’s a big improvement from the first Puss In Boots, movie. While the voice acting was great from the main characters, the real star of the film is certainly Wolf aka Death. From the moment he appears, whistling in the background, Wolf shows us he doesn’t mess around. From the way he stalks Puss throughout the film, to how he talks, Wolf steals every scene he’s in. While not a villain per se, (technically, he didn’t do anything wrong, except his job, He is the Grim Reaper, after all.) he’s definitely the best antagonist we’ve seen grace animated screens in years. In addition, he's really not acting out of malicious intent. Wolf is not after the wish or wants to make Puss suffer. He just does his job extremely well and knows that Puss's time is up. He does relish the hunt, though. Throughout the film, we only see him four times, but each time, Puss's hairs stand up in fear.

Another plus is the character development of Puss. From being a cocky glory hog who only cares about preserving his own legend, to learning not to take life for granted. Puss understands that his life is more than cheap thrills and lonely adventures. We see Puss confess his regret to Kitty for leaving her at the altar, address his fear of dying, and eventually overcome that fear while fighting Wolf. Even Goldilocks has her moment of truth, confronted with her wish for a “real” family over the genuine one she already has.

I really don’t have any truly bad things to say about this movie, other than I’m sorry for sleeping on it before! The runtime is short but sweet. It revitalizes the Shrek franchise, and it should have been promoted better, because it came out in late December of 2022, and I didn’t even know of this one until late January from TikTok! (Strange World also didn’t have an adequate promotion, but that’s for another post.) I give Puss In Boots: The Last Wish a 9 out of 10!

Thank you so much for supporting this blog, as we see another year! I hope you’re killing those New Year Resolutions! Be sure to share this post with friends, and till next time fellow blerds!