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The year was 2001 and Shrek was released to massive critical acclaim and one the very first Best Animated Feature Oscar. Then in 2004, Puss in Boots was introduced in Shrek 2. Since then we had two more Shrek sequels and the 2011 Puss in Boots film. Eleven years later Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek are back. They are joined by Harvey Guillen, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, John Mulaney, and more in a journey of self-discovery.
I was thirteen when the original Shrek was released and still a fan of Smash Mouth; their debut album Fush Yu Mang is criminally underrated. Twenty-one years later I am wondering who this film was for. Much like Toy Story, it is possible that part of the writing staff grew up on the franchise and injected some of their thirty-something life experiences into the film. It is also possible that those thirty-somethings from the original film are now eyeing retirement and contemplating their mortality. This leads to a balancing act between kid-friendly jokes and subject matter while keeping parents and young adults entertained. Shrek films always used a solid amount of double entendre that both sets of viewers could enjoy.
I enjoyed the film and felt that its 1:42 runtime was ideal. I map stories and concepts in film onto my own life all the time. Some films highlight areas where I am looking for self-improvement and can stir emotions. My partner does a much better job of separating film from reality. While The Last Wish did not bring me to tears there were points where I felt an emotional response that I felt the movie had done sufficient legwork to elicit. Will you have the same experience? Perhaps, or perhaps this will just be a fun film that brings you nostalgia for the first few years of this century.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a great continuation of the Shrek franchise. The new Dreamworks intro animation reminds you that they have built a solid competitor to Disney and Pixar. Puss in Boots keeps the competition level high for big-budget animated films for the entire family, even if that family is just one.