Dec 2, 2011

Puss In Boots (2011): Watch it for swashbuckling charm of Puss, seductive voices of Banderas and Hayek, the innocence of script and chaotic mix of characters.


Well I personally love the character of 'Puss In Boots' from Shrek franchise. A spunky feline voiced by Antonio Banderas...is a lovable yet feisty outlaw. He is a lover and a leaver. The movie 'Puss In Boots' takes a look into the origin and story of this cheerful feline outlaw, before he is introduced in the second of the Shrek franchise.



Movie is somewhat a chaotic mix of a number of nursery rhyme characters in an old feel Spanish village setting, yet it is an enjoyable film. But the film mixes up too much too follow at times. You have the story of how innocent lovable Puss becomes Swashbuckler outlaw Puss in Boots, and goes on his ways of crime with characteristics of Zorro. And the story begins to bring in an array of familiar names such as Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill (who are a married couple here, and here I was thinking always they were brother and sister), and Jack and the bean stalk, and then Golden Goose and Mother Goose. Then there is the love angle with the seductive and sassy Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek).

The plot is interesting as well, it is about Puss's quest for the magic beanstalk, in order to reach the magic castle beyond clouds and steal the Golden Goose that lays golden eggs. He is joined in his plan by two sidekicks; an estranged friend Humpty and Kitty Softpaws; and pursued by villionous duo Jack and Jill. But as it turns out eventually not everyone as what they seem to be. But I won’t reveal this part much as the movie has just released and is for sure worth catching atlest once, if for nothing else then sexy voices of Antonio Bandares and Salma Hayek.

It is a story of adventure, friendship, love, betrayal, revenge and reunion. But yes I found the film lacking the charm of Shrek films and the usual suaveness of Puss. The film on the whole becomes a bit complex, with a whole array of Spanish folks and Folklore characters being mashed up together, and there are too many ‘change of heart’ moments in the story, which make it not so smooth. As a character Puss has just one angle, the swashbuckling, charming, sword dueling, with self delusional Spanish vainglory; and well after a few starting scene that charm seems to be loosing interest for me. For me I think the character of Humpty Dumpty (the egghead, voiced by Zach Galifianakis) was much more interesting and multi dimensional. Yet I really did enjoy those particular bits in the story where sword handling swashbuckling Puss uses big innocent cat eyes to disarm his enemies. And the Spanish dance of Puss and Kitty Softpaws.

The film is wonderful in terms of colorful visuals, and 3D works well in adding on to the spectacular animation. Puss as character and Antonio as its voice is a match made in heaven. And so Salma’s voice to the suave Kitty Soft paws.

I would rate the film as a good 3 out of 5. Even though often at times the mix of characters becomes chaotic, yet the child-like innocence of the story makes me smile even though on the most lamest and silliest of jokes and clichés. And yes the film is thankfully no sequel or prequel or anywhere attached to the memory of Shrek (which I’m sorry but has totally lost all appeal to me after so many sequels of its own). The Puss did took a share of my attention away from Shrek and the Donkey when it was introduced in the second Shrek series, but here, on its own, the Puss in Boots stands tall for itself.




Puss In Boots 3D (2011)
Director: Chris Miller;
Voices Of: Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots), Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws), Zach Galifianakis (Humpty Dumpty), Billy Bob Thornton (Jack) and Amy Sedaris (Jill).
Writer: Tom Wheeler,
Based on a story by Brian Lynch, Will Davies and Mr. Wheeler;
Editor: Eric Dapkewicz;
Producer: Joe M. Aguilar and Latifa Ouaou;
Released by DreamWorks Animation.
Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

No comments:

Post a Comment