New Take on an Old Kitty's Tail

Rating: Null/10 (14 November 2011)

**Spoiler Alert** Antonio Banderas was perfect for this role. No one else has the voice to bring this Iberian Puss in Boots to life. The animation was spectacular. However, I was extremely disappointed at the hodge-podge of "Hispanic" themes and cultural references in the film. They added up to a fuzzy cultural interpretation. Was this story set in Mexico? In Spain? In the U.S. Southwest? It was not clear. The movie starts with a man who (I think) is supposed to be Mexican, yelling in that Mexican country-western way (¡Ay, ay, ay!) before skipping off to a "fiesta" in the "plaza." Yet, in the village, there are Spaniards in conquistador helmets running the show, and characters who look, from my Southwestern point of view, to be mestizo (ethnically mixed, both Spanish and American Indian). Again, where was this story supposed to be taking place? In the Spanish colonial New World? Or in Spain? Lots of trite stereotypes mixed in with cool Flamenco dancing (from Spain) set to the razor-sharp guitar playing of Mexican artists Rodrigo y Gabriela. Seemed like the Anglo screenwriters didn't do enough research, or get their historical facts straight. Disappointing. Hard to believe Banderas didn't chime in with corrections.