Patrick Pane
Dreamworks has hit it out of the park with its surprise success “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”. Animated movies are always difficult to judge especially when looking at them outside of their target demographic. Nonetheless, Puss in Boots is successful in providing a story that will resonate with all ages.
Death is an ever-present concept in our lives, whether as a child or an adult– death is always there and it is how people handle it that truly matters. Death even plays a literal role in this children’s cartoon: as the main antagonist to our heroic cat. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is deeper than it first appears but it is still successful at appealing to younger audiences through its shrewd characterization. The story is heavy-handed in its themes of life and mortality– the concept of living life fully in the face of death is constantly in play even in the movie’s more comedic moments.
In a lesser children’s movie, the comic relief character would serve no purpose in the narrative. In Puss in Boots, the character Perrito serves an important purrrrpose: making the characters realize the frivolity of their wishes. While Perrito may be grating to older audiences, his presence is soundly justified in the story through clever writing.
It is this innovative storytelling that allows Puss in Boots to feel fresh in a world full of subpar children’s movies. In an attempt to gain a wish and regain his lost nine lives, Puss must ally with Perrito and the furrmidable Kitty Softpaws. In order to get the wish the characters must use a magical map that makes obstacles based on the greatest desires of the last one to touch it. Perrito, though, being kind and content with his simplistic life has none, and Puss uses this in order to make his way to the wish.
Dreamworks is known for its hit-or-miss movies, but when Dreamworks hits, it soars as high as felines on catnip! Puss in Boots might be the best movie Dreamworks has put out in years. It is worth a watch for people of any age but its layered messages make it a great choice for a family experience.
Too often, movies aim for only one demographic at a time but Puss-in-Boots the Last Wish succeeds in providing interesting entertainment for all ages which is a testament to the storytelling in the movie. Puss-in-Boots is a must-watch for families with its ability to merge tasteful storytelling and widespread appeal. This movie is sure to be a favorite for many watchers of all ages and it’s a new favorite of mine, to be sure.