Music, Style & Culture

Puss In Boots

Lacks invention, but is more than compensated by the astute and frequently gut-bustingly hilarious cat characterisations.

Released in cinemas 9th December 2011.

DreamWorks create a prequel/spin-off to Shrek that shows there's plenty of life in the franchise - away from the tiresome ogre.

The dashing Puss in Boots, once again luxuriously voiced by Antonio Banderas, commands an entire fun-filled movie with his shenanigans. The origins of the swashbuckling feline's mercenary ways are revealed in a protracted storyline involving the magic beans of lore, and the resulting beanstalk.

Puss teams up with fellow outlaw Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek - a match made in heaven), and his childhood buddy Humpty (Zach Galifianakis) to rob the beans from an amusingly savage Jack and Jill (joyfully realised by Amy Sedaris and Billy Bob Thornton).

The drawn-out plot that delves deep into Puss and Humpty's background lacks invention or thrills, but is more than compensated by the astute and frequently gut-bustingly hilarious cat characterisations. Definitely a movie kitty-lovers can lap up, feline wiles and adorable traits are used to maximum effect. One superb sequence features a dance-off between Puss and Kitty in a seedy underground joint, where the liquor of choice is milk straight from the cow. When it's not sagging in the middle, Puss in Boots is a fresh and funny treat; in a screening full of young ones, it was the adults cackling away with glee.

Despite its western vibe, the film never looks as stunning as Gore Verbinski's Rango, which raised the bar for animation. The obligatory 3D is pointless (animation-wise, only this year's Tangled used it to magical effect in their lanterns scene). However, as cats themselves are notoriously difficult for animators to get right (ever seen a decent toy cat?), director Chris Miller and his team should be celebrated for capturing the mysterious essence of our feline friends and having an enormous amount of fun with it. Praise must also be given for highlighting in seriousness the disgraceful, legal US practice of declawing.

The many memorable and hugely enjoyable scenes compensate for a plot that struggles to maintain interest, but at least the script's dialogue is sharp. The risqué Puss has a riot with the sultry Kitty, playing up the actors' genuine spark and friendship, whereas Galifianakis is a satisfyingly contemptuous and unlikeable Humpty, nailing the insecurities of his bullied egg.

A cynical spin-off that's resulted in DreamWorks Animation's finest film since How to Train Your Dragon.

Rating: 7/10