Last Wish proves Shrek franchise not done with nine lives just yet

The legend returns to cinemas after 11 long years. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish lands on its feet as a purrfect sequel to the underrated original from 2011. Taking place in the fairytale farce of the Shrek Universe, The Last Wish sees Antonio Banderas reprise his role as Puss (Or Pickles) losing eight of his nine lives. With Death hot on his tail, he must learn to love his wacky sidekicks Kitty Softpaw (Salma Hayek, Eternals) and Perro the dog (Harvey Guillen, Cursed Friends), and embrace his mortality in this touching, family-friendly film. Along the way, he battles the villainous Big Jack Horner, played by comedian John Mulaney, as well as Goldilocks and the Three Bears. All of these characters collide in the search for the mythical Wishing Star, which could potentially restore Puss’s nine lives. 

The first Puss In Boots was released to relative acclaim in 2011, without leaving much of a legacy, besides Zach Galifianakis’ (The Hangover) wonderfully ridiculous depiction of Humpty Dumpty. The first film failed to leave a mark on the world and faded in obscurity until the announcement of a sequel. The film was met with excitement and ecstatic fan reactions! People noticed the leap in animation quality and the quirky qualities at the forefront of The Last Wish trailer. Eventually, as all things do on the internet, it became a meme. “Boys had their fun, now it’s real men’s turn,” circulated along with the typical TikTok trends. Buzz continued to build and build, but similar excitement had fallen flat in the past. Many fans were apprehensive since it seemed like the first film was being completely ignored, waiting instead to see the critical and audience reaction. Some theorized that it would be ridiculed and bomb upon its release, and with Babylon opening to mixed acclaim, many were dismayed. But Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, proved to be the farthest thing from a bomb. 

The Last Wish is cinema. While that hyperbolic statement is amusing, it is not a fallacy. The Last Wish sets off a cataclysmic bombshell in the Shrek universe. The thematic storytelling and message, likable and relatable characters, and refined visuals delivers a compelling narrative that transcends animation. The most notable shining Wishing Star is Banderas, in paw-sibly his best performance yet. The fear and emotional instability present in Puss is astounding considering the family-friendly coat of paint plastered on this film. The viewer feels the claw-strophic terror and vulnerability pulsing through Puss as his mortality catches up to him. Florence Pugh (Black Widow) and Olivia Coleman (The Crown) share a tender mother/daughter relationship throughout the film which will warm even the coldest of hearts. Their dynamic is catnip-ivating and helps flesh out the cast. Wagner Moura steals the show in every scene he is in (all three of them) as the physical embodiment of Death coming after Puss. 

That leads to one, minuscule flaw that holds Wish back from being a perfect masterpiece. The stacked cast is the film’s greatest strength… as well as its biggest weakness. With a tight runtime of 100 minutes, the film has to compensate by cramming character moments in every nook and cranny they can. This can lead to viewer whiplash, with every scene bouncing back and forth to further flesh out characters. A tiny improvement in the pacing of the individual vignettes might improve this slight issue of overstuffing the viewer, but it still does not distract from the positive aspects of this movie. Each character is still amazingly likable. Despite the clunkiness attaching characters to the viewers, litter-ally every other component of this film makes up for this minor lapse.   

The frailty of life as a dominant theme pervades every character. Jack Horner, Goldilocks, and Puss all forsake the people that love them in order to gain material and selfish desires. Eventually, they learn to embrace what they have and not wish for more… except for Jack; he wanders through this film killing and slaughtering everything he can in a delightfully murderous performance from Mulaney. In the end, Jack is the only one who doesn’t learn his lesson and is punished for it. While these concepts may seem fairly juvenile, any advancement of theme and character in cinema specialized for children is appreciated. Not every film needs to be the next Citizen Kane. Some films serve as bite-sized entertainment packages that’ll leave the viewer with a positive thought and a smile. This is where The Last Wish shines exponentially.      

Praise and admiration have flooded The Last Wish. Many are calling it one of the best films of 2022 mere days after its release. Its Rotten Tomatoes is certified fresh with 96%, beating out the other long-awaited, inferior sequel released recently… Nevertheless, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is anything but a bomb; it’s become a new turning point in the astronomically important Shrek franchise. And due to the last shot of the film, it’s fair to say there are plenty of stories to tell in Far Far Away…

Grade: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish sprinkles delicious character and meaning on a light-hearted, fun, and clever film. With fantastic performance and characters, a touching message, and just pure enjoyment, the movie is a testament to the power of cinema and animation. 

A 

by Marcus Miller

Published January 30,2023

Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue 4