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RATING:
Rated PG for some adventure action and mild rude humor
GENRE:
Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy and Science Fiction/Fantasy
RELEASE:
Oct. 28, 2011
STARRING:
Voices of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris
DIRECTOR:
Chris Miller
DISTRIBUTOR:
DreamWorks Animation / Paramount Pictures
More on this movie at IMDb.com
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CHRISTIAN MOVIE REVIEW
Puss in Boots
By Beth Patch
CBN.com Producer
CBN.com
- With charisma that’s larger than life, but stature that’s more like a Chihuahua, Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) pounces into the leading role of the mischievous, but valiant cat who stars in the new film, Puss in Boots.
Although this endearing character began attracting interest from Shrek moviegoers, this feature film is a prequel to his Shrek days and involves none of the other characters from the land of Far Far Away. It was no easy task to launch Puss in Boots into the limelight, but through the combined efforts of the creative team (DreamWorks Animation and director Chris Miller of Shrek the Third) and the captivating voice of Antonio Banderas, this kitty adventure will not just entertain the kiddies. It’s a romantic, adventure-comedy that cleverly combines the natural tendencies from the feline world with a well-crafted story of redemption.
In a Nutshell
Puss grows up in a loving orphanage with his best friend, Humpty Dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis). Humpty’s a dreamer and a planner who has placed their combined hopes on an unethical plot that will bring them a lifetime of riches. As the boys age, so does their dream; and their friendship faces extinction after a devastating betrayal. They go their separate ways and meet later on when Humpty’s scheme becomes a plausible project. Along the way, Puss meets his match in swordsmanship when he encounters Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek). She is part of Humpty’s underhanded venture. The three team up to reach their goal despite the difficulties in getting the job done because of two large problems – Jack and Jill (voiced by Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris). In true story tale form, there are many conflicts that need to be resolved, but the biggest one is Puss’ reputation. When he left the San Ricardo orphanage, his mother and the entire town falsely believed he had robbed the village bank.
Pros
- Humor abounds through the antics displayed in the characters and the witty script.
- Betrayal, revenge, bullying, and lying are shown as negatives; respect, love, redemption, and forgiveness are shown as positives.
- There is no foul language.
- The adult humor is mild and discreet, passing over the heads of most children and some adults.
- Puss and Kitty Softpaws flirt with each other, but they don’t take it beyond innocent flirtation.
- Funny representations of nursery rhyme/fairytale characters and settings from Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, and Puss in Boots.
- The animators and directors have captivated and comically portrayed some of the most discreet mannerisms of felines.
- The love given by the orphanage caretaker was sincere and strong family bonds develop.
Cons
- Puss visits bars and saloons. (However, he only drinks milk.)
- In one scene, Puss wakes up next to a female cat giving the impression that they spent the night together.
- Stealing is not depicted as 100 percent wrong. Kitty Softpaws displays the art of pick pocketing and swift slight-of-hand stealing as commendable skills. However, stealing from a bank was reprehensible.
What to Expect
The movie begins showing the “Bad Kitty” side of Puss. It’s short-lived compared to the rest of the movie, but it includes him waking up near a drunk and displaying immoral character. Puss becomes an admirable fellow, the likes of Robin Hood or Zorro.
There are some action scenes that involve swordsmanship and gunshots. There is a dance scene that must have taken weeks for the creative team to put together. The quality of the animation cannot be understated as they captured facial expressions and body movements with perfection.
Be prepared to laugh … a lot.
 Beth Patch serves as the Global Ministries and Spiritual Life Devotions producer for CBN.com. For more articles and info, visit Beth's bio page.
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