Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is the sequel to the 2011 film called Puss in Boots which itself was a spinoff from the Shrek Universe. The first film was made on a budget of $90 Million and it grossed over $555 Million worldwide. The success of the film was immense and it gave us one of the best animated characters- Puss in Boots. He became a pop culture icon. However, despite the overwhelming success of the film, Dreamworks didn’t make a sequel for the film until now. It has been almost 12 years since the first part released. I think they went a little James Camerony there. Regardless, despite being released alongside Avatar: The Way of Water the sequel managed to find enough room to make money. Made on a familiar budget of $90 Million, the film has earned $306 Million worldwide.
This is while running parallel with Way of Water which is an achievement in itself. However, I’m not judging the film based on financial performance alone. From everyone I know or read about, they’ve only said good things about this film. I’ve literally not heard one bad thing about this film from anyone. Last week, the Oscar nominations for this year were revealed and the sequel has managed to score one. It is supposed to be the frontrunner for the prestigious award alongside Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. Seeing this overwhelming response to the sequel I was intrigued so I went in to watch the film and judge it myself and understand if the hype is for real.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Review- More Than Just An Animated Film?
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is directed by Joel Crawford and stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Wagner Moura, John Mulaney, Florence Pugh and Olivia Colman. I must admit I’m not a big fan of animated films. In fact, I actively avoid watching them. The only animated film I truly love is Coco. I did watch del Toro’s Pinocchio last year but that because it was from the great director himself. I forced myself to watch this film because of the great response it had and also because it is a movie about cats, I won’t miss that.
Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have seen it. So, let’s keep it short. If you love animated films, go watch this right now. Truly, this is even better than the first part. It deserves all the praise that it has been getting all round. The film is about vulnerability of a hero that once was. It is about accepting. It is about mortality and coming in terms to it. It is about family, trust and everything that is important in life. Most importantly it is about two awesome cats who are so cute.
This us very close to be the best animated film of the year, however, I would still say del Toro’s Pinocchio is marginally better. The animation of the film is superb and the way they change animation suddenly for a fight sequence really works in the film’s favor. They didn’t do this in the first film. The chemistry between Puss and Kitty is better than ever. Perro’s addition in the film is extremely well done as well. Puss in Boots 2 made me emotional at multiple points. It can be predictable but it is not trying to be a thriller.
Everything is extremely well done in the film. Wagner Moura’s Death is awesome. Like he really makes a mark on you as the character. He is terrifying. I’m not someone who enjoys an animated film but the fact I liked this one so much, it tells you how well done it is. I love how the film starts and ends. All the arcs are completed and in fact it does all this while keeping the runtime very crisp. There is barely any boring scene in the film. The action is also amazing. Couldn’t take my eye off the screen. Overall, this was a really fun experience and I’m glad I went for the film. Definitely one of the best films of the year.
Verdict
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is very well done animated film that works on all levels. It is rare that a sequel turns out to be better than the original film. This year has really been a good year for sequels. This is not just a film about cats but about human emotions that tell us so much more about life through various characters. It is spiritual but always plot driven so that the screenplay doesn’t miss even one beat. I’ll rate the sequel 3.5 out of 5 stars. However, you might rate it much higher.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is currently playing in theatres near you and is available for purchase on Digital.
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