Rating: 9/10 | Verdict: Worth a watch!

Going to see this movie, I had high expectations. Reviews on the couple of movie review sites that I frequent were higher than you would expect for a movie about a supporting character from Shrek. What’s more, my brother and friends who had gone to see it told me that I shouldn’t miss it.

I’m happy to report that those expectations were at least met, if not exceeded!

The swashbuckling feline hero Puss in Boots is down to the last of his nine lives, and suddenly finds himself confronted with death on more levels than one. But after hearing about a fallen star that will grant any wish to the one who finds it, Puss and a new friend set out on a quest to find the star and regain the lives he has lost. Along the way, Kitty Softpaws, a past love interest of Puss who is distrusting but has her own ideas for a wish, joins the group. Also in pursuit of the wishing star are the Goldi & Three Bears crime syndicate and the devious Big Jack Horner.

The animation in this movie is gorgeous and fun, and it alone makes the movie worth watching. Action sequences are depicted in a hyper-stylized, storybook-esque manner that enhances the setting and feel of the movie. These scenes reminded me of the animation style of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but storybook rather than comic book. Unlike some other reviewers, I think it was a good choice to keep this animation style to the action sequences rather than using it for the whole movie, as I think it would have been too much visually otherwise. 

All of the three main characters as well as the side characters to which we are introduced over the course of the movie are interesting and contain ample depth, which is impressive for a 90-minute runtime. However, ample depth for a children’s movie is not the same as for a hard-hitting adult drama, so it’s not surprising that some characters still mostly resemble caricatures by the end of the story. However, this can easily be written off as part of the storybook feel of the movie.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is one of those ideal “children’s” movies that is simultaneously entertaining for both kids and adults. While the themes explored in the movie are mature, they are handled in a way that makes them accessible to adult viewers while being tame enough for kiddos. The main villain, Wolf, is a good example of this. For kids, he’s just a scary wolf trying to take down our hero, Puss in Boots. But adults will recognize that Wolf is literally Death, and Puss is coming to terms with Death throughout the movie both literally and figuratively in his recurring moments of debilitating terror prior to the final battle. 

In addition to being a contemplation on mortality, themes of contentment and thankfulness pervade the storyline of the film, as does the importance of family, friendship, and trust. These are lessons everyone, and especially Christians, can absolutely get behind! Some gags with bleeped-out foul language and a use of “hell” in the movie, as well as some violence in the action sequences, were the only elements that parents might find concerning for younger kids.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is an excellent animated movie that is a worthy Oscar contender. It portrays a surprisingly deep story about the value of life and how we choose to live it, as well as being a beautiful, fun, and occasionally hilarious adventure movie. I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a watch!