Puss in Boots

Rating: 7/10 (24 December 2011)

The Shrek series has been a big treat for kids and families for the last decade, and when I found out that they were doing a spin-off for one of the most favourite characters', first introduced in the second film, I was up for it. Basically, set years before he met Shrek and Donkey, this sees how the famous cat came to be the swashbuckling legend that is Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas). The story sees him in search of the legendary and so far never found magic beans that, planted in the right place, will grow the giant beanstalk and take him to the clouds above to take the golden eggs, or rather the goose that lays them. Before this quest begins he has an encounter with a masked cat outlaw, this turns out to be Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek), who has a talent for stealing, and she is an ally with his former friend, since childhood, Humpty Alexander Dumpty (The Hangover's Zach Galifianakis). For a while Puss wants nothing to do with Humpty and helping him to find the magic beans, as he betrayed him a long time ago, but eventually he agrees to join forces, but not as a friend, but purely for the glory. The three companions track nasty thieves Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris) who have managed to find the magic beans, and slowly Puss and Kitty are turning from rivals into close friends. They do eventually get their hands on the beans, and they get the beanstalk after Humpty plants them in the right spot, the Giant that once occupied the cloud castle no longer exists, but the mother of the golden egg laying goose, called the Terror, is on lookout. After they successfully steal the young goose that lays the golden eggs Humpty reveals that he has in fact been keeping an eye on Puss for some time, and he knew that he would be looking for the source of the treasure as well, but Kitty feels guilty of being any part in the scheme. In the end the Terror, obviously a giant goose, is defeated while attacking the fairytale world, after Humpty sacrifices himself, Jack and Jill, having being injured, are arrested, and Puss and Kitty do finally kiss. Also starring Constance Marie as Imelda, Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo Del Toro as Moustache Man / Comandate, Rich Dietl as Bounty Hunter and Ryan Crego as Luis. Banderas is once again a great choice as the swashbuckling feline with all the sword fighting moves, and the amusing cat habits, e.g. chasing lights and drinking milk, Hayek does well as his fellow female feline companion, and Galifianakis is interesting as the famous talking egg. The story was slightly patchy in places, but it doesn't matter too much as it is full of some great moments that make you laugh, plenty of exciting parts, and of course fantastic computer animation creating great effects and character, a good fun animated comedy adventure. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film. Very good!