Puss In Boots – Film Review
Director: Chris Miller
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Zach Galifiankis
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Considering the dwindling quality of the Shrek films, releasing a spin-off for one of its more popular characters can certainly be considered as the lesser of two evils. Even young kids would have felt doubtful about the release of Shrek 5: A big pile of Shrek (in which he befriends a wise cracking octopus, only to be double crossed by it and, for some reason, have to save his marriage… again.)
Therefore, it’s a smart move to take Puss, a character introduced in Shrek 2, and who captured a great deal of the scenes of that film, and give him his very own story. Make no mistake, this is still very much a cash-in movie, but you’ll be surprised to discover how much fun it is.
Puss in Boots examines the origins of the swash-buckling feline, explaining how he went from being a vulnerable orphan, to petty crook, to dashing mercenary. Along the way, he will befriend a cunning but clumsy Humpty Dumpty, clash swords with ruthless bandits, charm the fur off potential love interest, Kitty Softpaws, and climb an impossibly high magic bean stalk.
Like most spin-offs, it feels forced at times. The plot doesn’t feel like a natural expansion of Puss’ character for example, and is basically a tacked on story for the sake of a few giggles. Similarly, some of the new characters, Humpty Dumpty in particular, just feel out of place despite the good chemistry they have with Puss.
Naturally, this is just nitpicking. First and foremost, Puss in Boots is a comedy, aimed at children and adults alike. It begins somewhat bland, eliciting only the odd chuckle from the audience. An early scene in which Puss meets Kitty in the fantastically named Kitty gLitter Club is a completely missed opportunity, coming across as just plain bizarre rather than hilariously so. But it picks up nicely in the second act, completely succeeding in its goal to be a family friendly comedy adventure.
The performances are all solid, with Puss obviously being the star of the show. It is an area of concern that, as a side character in the Shrek films, he may not have been able to carry the full weight of responsibility of a main protagonist. However, he manages well enough, just about getting by on the charm that won over audiences before. Humpty, as mentioned already, is just an odd character. It has nothing to do with Zach Galifianakis’ performance, he is well suited to the role, and he gets some of the best lines. However, for whatever reason, he simply comes across as unlikeable and forgettable.
The action is an area in which the film really shines through. The beautiful Spanish themed town of San Ricardo plays host to a number of fast paced rooftop chases and there are a few genuinely exciting sword fights between Puss and Jack and Jill. The break-in to the giant’s castle, however, is the films high point, offering a perfect blend of action and just plain silly humour. It also features one of the few incidents in which the use of 3D is justified, showing an incredible castle silhouetted by a night sky and northern lights.
The film has it’s flaws, but it is all too easy to get swept up in the fun. Many people might not go out of their way to pet a cat. The cat comes up to them, and, usually with a sense of good humour, they pet it anyway. Puss in Boots operates in a similar manner. It might not be something you’ll actively seek out, but if you do, you’ll walk away satisfied.
Score: 3/5
