The “Shrek” movies may not even exist as far we’re concerned in “Puss in Boots,” which is fine, because they just kept getting worse; last year’s “Shrek Forever After,” in 3-D, felt especially flat. But the franchise reboots anew here, if you’ll pardon the pun, with great energy, creativity and aplomb. This spin-off is actually a prequel, providing the origin story of the diminutive, swashbuckling kitty voiced with great charisma, as always, by Antonio Banderas.
At the film’s start, Puss is an outlaw in his own small, Spanish hometown. Flashbacks take us to his childhood at an orphanage, where he was best friends with a brainy, ambitious Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis). Together, the two dreamed of stealing the magic beans, climbing the beanstalk and getting rich off some golden eggs. Now, that crime has become Humpty’s obsession; he tries to enlist Puss as the brawn of the operation, which would allow both to enjoy some redemption.
| ONSCREEN |
| ‘Puss in Boots’ |
| » Rating: 3 out of 4 stars |
| » Starring: Antonio Banderas, Zach Galifinakis, Salma Hayek |
| » Director: Chris Miller |
| » Rated: PG for some adventure action and mild rude humor |
| » Running time: 90 minutes |
Humpty’s partner in this caper is the dangerous master thief Kitty Softpaws, voiced with slinky seduction by Banderas’ frequent co-star, Salma Hayek. They’re so good together after so long, it just makes sense.
But since Puss is a lover as much as he’s a fighter, you know he’ll find a way to win her over. A dance-off between the two characters early on, when Kitty is still disguised and Puss is unaware she’s a woman, is both exquisitely choreographed and hilariously funny.
The Puss in Boots character eventually felt like the best part of the “Shrek” movies, but a little of him goes a long way. Giving him an entire movie of his own would seem like a stretch, and really, he has trouble sustaining his shtick for the film’s 90-minute running time.
Puss looks so soft and fluffy and tactile in his little leather boots, his jaunty feathered hat and his shiny sword, you’ll want to reach out and pet him — especially when he’s a tiny kitten working those big, green eyes for maximum manipulative effect. But just as impressive is the way the film from director Chris Miller (“Shrek the Third”) gives detailed expression and personality to a talking egg. Merely the idea that Humpty Dumpty might be a criminal mastermind is good for a laugh, but Galifianakis infuses the character with a healthy mix of neediness and megalomania. He gets so into the character, you might not even realize it’s him under that shell until the credits roll.
Thankfully there’s a lot of inspired writing — and not nearly so many pop-culture references and Hollywood in-jokes — this time around. Puss likes to dance, but he never does the Macarena.
