Puss in Boots is a film that could have been better. It is really great at moments but silly and incoherent at others. A film I wanted to like more than I actually did.
Puss in Boots is a spin-off prequel to the Shrek movies. It is an origin story wrapped in a heist film.
The first Shrek film was absolutely wonderful. The film had a charming heart and an acerbic wit. The send ups of fairy tales and the constant mockery of all things Disney where terrific. The film was edgy and insightful. The series of films after the original have been hit or miss, often times losing sight of the success of the original.
The excellent documentary The Pixar Story captures the essence of success of Dreamworks Animation primary rival Pixar. It highlights why Pixar succeeded when Walt Disney Animation Studios was floundering. Pixar was willing to focus on the story. They were willing to reboot films entirely when they were not working correctly. The advances of computer animation were a vehicle to tell a better tale.
I think Puss in Boots is a film that almost came together but needed a bit of a reboot. A moment to get back to telling the story well. A second to think about the cohesion. A moment to return to the biting satire in the original Shrek.
There are of course moments of great success. The reveal scene is epic. It was clever and fun. It lambasted the implausible reveal of too many films (think Wild Things).
There are also some genuinely cute moments between Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and Puss (Antonio Banderas). The growth of friendship and its parting make for interactions that are endearing and funny.
The interactions between Puss and Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) are interesting. We see them in combat and rivarly. We also see the childish way that you pick on those you love.
The interactions are strong enough that you forgot you are looking at two talking animated cats and a anthropomorphic egg.
We also had some great dashes of fairy tale send ups. An ammusing Ohhh Cat (Bob Persichetti). Some smart dialogue about domesticity between Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris).
Where Puss in Boots falls apart is the convoluted story line. There is just too much going on and it is not really very believable. The twists and turns are forced and unnecessary. They go too far and lack the motivation to get there. The story just never fully gells.
The rivalry to love story and the friendship to rivalry story were both well done. It was the magic beans stuff and the ending that really seemed out of whack.
Puss in Boots contains some good material and interesting interactions but the story that drives the film is just a little off and never really comes together in a believable or interesting way. The film will supply laughs and has some tender moments, but could have used a moment of reflection and a bit of a reboot.
PARSI VERDICT: At times clever and charming the story never really fully comes together.