It has been eleven years and Antonio Banderas (Desperado, Shrek 2) returns as the titular outlaw along with Selma Hayek (Hitman’s Bodyguard, House of Gucci) as Kitty Paws and Harvey Guillen (Archer, Harley Quinn) as newcomer Perrito, a want to be therapy dog masquerading as a cat. If that last bit sounds amusing, then director Joel Crawford (The Croods: New Age) has a treat in store!
Before we reach spoiler territory, take it from Miss Ten, my daughter.
“It was really good, fun and interesting. I like how all the characters in the group are different from each other and how they are all the fairy tale characters like Goldilocks and the bears and the giant dude that stuck his thumb in a plum.”
This wouldn’t be a Shrek universe film without heavily featuring folk lore characters. Goldilocks plays a prominent part, a brash and manipulative neutral/evil character who spends a good chunk of the film directing the attention of her surrogate family, The Three Bears. “Big” Jack Horner (the pie guy) is the villain of the story, suffering an insatiable lust for expanding his collection of enchanted relics and magical items from across the land.
Part of the fun, watching a Shrek universe film, is picking out all the fairy tale easter eggs and associated nuanced gags. There aren’t as many this time around, but there are still a few for keen viewers to absorb.
The story kicks off with everyone’s lovable scoundrel and ladies cat coming to realise that he’s run out of lives, literally. Down to his last of nine lives, Puss has to hang up his hat, retiring his career, disappear in to the night and take refuge with a cat lady (yup).
However, this retired kitty can’t be left alone and is quickly pursued by a bounty hunting wolf, who has more than a little resemblance to the grim reaper, as well as Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Wolf wants his head, while Goldilocks wants Puss to steal a map. A map that leads to the wishing star, which grants one great wish. Where this is going is obvious. There is a spanner in the works, however, the map is en route to the aforementioned “Big” Jack Horner. Everyone has a desire to be fulfilled by the wishing star and they’ll stop at nothing to beat each other to the punch.
Visually stunning, the animation is spectacular. Designed to look like a fairy tale painting in motion, as well as frenetic action sequences which simulate a low shutter speed or freeze frame motion to stress key action and hero moments.The former is subtle, while the latter can be quite jarring in contrast. In some later, wide action scenes, there is a lot going on and it is easy to lose track of who is fighting who.
This is one for both kids and adults. There is a lot of fun to be had for all ages, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish fences in at an easy 7 out of 10 wily, scandalous cat lives.
We also had the opportunity to chat to Salma Hayek & Director Joel Crawford plus Harvey Guillén who plays Perrito! Click on the names to watch or you can listen via our podcast series “The Accessreel.com Interviews”
