Pleasant But Unmemorable Diversion

Rating: 6/10 (23 November 2011)

Puss in Boots (1:30, PG, 3-D) — other: talking animals, 2nd string, sequel
This movie is an origin tale describing how the swashbuckling orange tabby from the Shrek series got his start as a lovable rogue. Antonio Banderas returns to voice the title character, but none of the other Shrek regulars are on hand. Instead we get Salma Hayek as Kitty Softpaws, the Pussy Galore to Puss's James Bond but no slouch herself when it comes to buckling a swash; Zach Galifianakis as Humpty Alexander Dumpty, Puss's best friend from their childhood in the San Ricardo orphanage; Billy Bob Thornton as Jack and Amy Sedaris as Jill, brutish, plug-ugly thugs; and Constance Marie as Imelda, the nurturing, encouraging foster mom at the orphanage.
We see in a flashback that both Puss and Humpty feel that the other betrayed their friendship when they were both teenagers, but now Humpty, allied with Kitty, seeks Puss's aid when it comes to snatching the 3 magic beans from Jack and Jill so they can ascend the giant beanstalk to swipe the Golden Goose from the cloud giant's castle.
This is all accomplished con brio y la leche.
There's a lot of stirring music here, with original compositions by Henry Jackman making excellent use of Spanish flamenco traditions, guitars, and trumpets. The opening fight scene between Puss and the leather-masked Kitty turns out to be a dance-off, and a pretty good one.
Puss is alternately sly, noble, supercilious, brave, egocentric, generous, and forgiving — and always athletic — altogether a fitting hero. Good dialog by screenwriters David H. Steinberg, Tom Wheeler, and Jon Zack, with nicely paced direction from Chris Miller.
Unfortunately, while this is certainly a pleasant diversion, and the animation is up to the usual DreamWorks standard, there isn't much adventure, and the comedy is thin, nor can you really consider it much of a character study, tho it's more about character than plot. There are misunderstandings and redemptions, intrigues and stereotypes, flattery and flirtery, but the good guys are worth rooting for and, not surprisingly, prevail in the end to rollick another day.
Basically, there's just nothing outstanding here. You won't consider this a waste of money while you're in the theater, but a couple of months hence you'll probably have a hard time remembering why.