Movie Review - Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots (2011)

Featuring the voice talents of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Zach Galifianakis

Directed by Chris Miller

The Shrek franchise is not one I'm fond of in the least.  While its pop culture sensibilities and cheap attempts at humor changed the animation genre, I don't think it did so for the better and, fortunately, we're seeing a shift away from that.  Quite surprisingly, Puss in Boots, a spin-off of the Shrek flicks, tells a pleasant story riffing on Mother Goose tales, but leaves the pop culture references behind.

Admittedly, I watched this while on a plane so I failed to get a good look at the animation since the screen was literally the size of a large index card, but I was impressed with the story this was trying to tell.  After learning that Jack and Jill have magic beans that will grow a magic beanstalk, Puss (Antonio Banderas) sets out on a mission to find them in order to gain access to the golden eggs laid by the golden goose at the top of stalk.  He teams up with fellow sassy cat Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and his former childhood friend Humpty Dumpty (Zack Galifianakis) and adventures inevitably ensue.

Even with the short 85 minute running time, the film felt a tad "empty" in terms of story, but I give Puss in Boots credit for taking a different tonal approach from its Shrek predecessors and doing so successfully.  Rather than mean-spirited (which Shrek sometimes feels to me), the flick contains amusing characters that are more than capable of holding their own with the fairy tale fables played for their charm rather than for a snarky joke.

The RyMickey Rating:  B