99¢ Review: Puss in Boots

I watch a lot of movies (Check out my list of movies seen in 2011), but I don’t always have the time to write up a full review. Instead, I thought I would start up a new column where I give you the discount version of the review. What’s good, what’s bad, if it’s worth your time.

The Movie: Puss in Boots

The Good: Puss in Boots, lack of pop culture jokes, fun cat humor

The Bad: Overcooked story, Humpty Dumpty

I think we can all agree that the best thing about the Shrek movies was the character Puss in Boots. The rascally orange cat, voiced by Antonio Banderas, had more personality than Shrek or Donkey combined. I was really excited when I heard that Puss in Boots would be getting a spin-off movie. It was a brilliant move by DreamWorks Animation Studio to pick this character with so much personality, a flair for the dramatic, and a taste for action to star in his own film.

The movie is an origin story recalling the childhood relationship between Puss in Boots and Humpty Dumpty. They are best friends who dream of finding the magic beans that will sprout the giant beanstalk and lead them to the giant’s castle. The castle for them represents an escape from dull village life and untold riches from the golden eggs of the giant’s goose. After long years searching, and an unfortunate fallout, the magic beans are finally found. With the help of the mysterious and seductive Kitty Softpaws, Humpty Dumpty and Puss in Boots reunite and set out to steal the magic beans from the evil Jack and Jill so they can finally realize their dream of making it to the giant’s castle. The story has quite a lot of action and general fun, but you'll see the crosses and double-crosses and triple-crosses coming from a mile away. 

The characters and humor is mostly great. Puss in Boots shines as the hero, and he gets into the kind of fun mischief that you’d expect. Antonio Banderas clearly is having fun voicing him. Kitty Softpaws is fun too, and the banter between her and Puss is playful, funny, and sweet. Humpty Dumpty, however, is terrible. He’s shallow, petty, spiteful, and generally a crappy character. Fortunately, Puss and Kitty are so great that the sour taste left by of Humpty doesn’t stick around for long.

This is a fun little flick that establishes Puss in Boots as a great character. It’s exciting and fun and will leave a big smile on your face. It will also give you a lot of fun names to call your own cat at home. I call this one Diablo Gato now.

3.5 out of 5