Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

• Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado
• December 13, 2022 (Lincoln Center) / December 21, 2022 (US)

Voice Cast

• Puss in Boots-Antonio Banderas
• Kitty Softpaws-Salma Hayek Pinault
• Perrito-Harvey Guillén
• Goldilocks (known as Goldi)-Florence Pugh
• Young Goldilocks-Kailey Crawford
• Mama Bear-Olivia Colman
• Papa Bear-Ray Winstone
• Baby Bear-Samson Kayo
• “Big” Jack Horner-John Mulaney
• The Wolf / Death-Wagner Moura
• Mama Luna-Da’Vine Joy Randolph
• The Doctor-Anthony Mendez
• Ethical Bug-Kevin McCann
• Governor of del Mar-Bernardo De Paula
• Jo Serpent-Betsy Sodaro
• Jan Srpent-Artemis Pebdani
• Gingy-Conrad Vernon
• Pinocchio-Cody Cameron

On the last of his 9 lives, Puss in Boots seeks the legendary Wishing Star.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is the rare sequel that exceeds the original and the rare spinoff film that rivals the source in quality and substance. Wrapped up in a comedic adventure story is a narrative about regret over a life poorly lived and living the life you have well along with being appreciative of what you have.

All through the movie it’s highlighted in one way or another how the characters didn’t see the good thing(s) they had or the good things they currently have. Crime boss and bakery kingpin “Big” Jack Horner had every material thing that one could want in life as well as loving parents yet it wasn’t ever enough for him so he sets out to gather all the magic in the world just for himself. Puss in Boots on the other hand had love not only from Kitty Softpaws but also from the public and lived an ultimately empty and unfulfilling life. Even Goldilocks and the Three Bears get in on it.

Goldilocks is an orphan with a loving family, but she doesn’t feel that she belongs with a bunch of bears. Take that as a parallel for real life in so many ways. Perrito may be annoying and bordering on delusional, but he is appreciative of what little he has. He may want more, but he’s not seeking to cheat his way into it like everybody else is.  Holy crap! That’s something we could all stand to emulate.

The message is not to waste your time seeking superficial pleasures or just generally superficial things. Make friends. Make a family. Make connections. And if you’re searching for those things take a moment out and see if you already have them and just have been too blind to understand it. Be happy with the life you have and stop being upset because you don’t think you have a good life. That’s the lesson here. And that’s an unusual lesson to find in a film. Or at least it’s not one that you see you too often.

Hot on Puss’s heels is what looks like the Big Bad Wolf but is actually Death who Puss initially mistakes for a bounty hunter. Puss for his part at the end of his life right now, and simply resigns himself to his fate which is moving in with crazy cat lady Mama Luna. Puss is eventually motivated in his actions by a fear of death before he can fix what he regrets!

Motivating much of the action is a map to the Wishing Star at the center of the Dark Forest. What becomes clear is that the map and thus the forest reflect the individual that’s possessing the map at the moment. Whatever baggage the person carries inside is manifested as some leg of the trip. More symbolism!

This movie is not down beat. There is plenty of humor and action and despite this being fueled by regret the tone of the movie is upbeat. It does not try to crush your spirits with its serious themes but rather tries to leave you with hope that there is time to change.

One of the things I like about The Last Wish is that it’s a complete standalone feature. While some elements carryover from the first film you don’t need to have watched the first film to understand everything that is occurring with the characters or with the general narrative. It is a continuation of his story, but not a continuation that necessitates seeing Puss in Boots. There’s enough of a recap of elements that you’re not lost at all. Even the stuff from the Shrek films that show up here does not require the viewer to have ever seen Shrek!

It’s a movie with some substance that you can enjoy also on a superficial level for its silliness and absurdity. They poke fun at Jiminy Cricket with a character called “Ethical Bug” who attempts to act as “Big” Jack Horner’s conscience before losing his s**t and going off on the guy.

This is just so packed but not to the point that it is overstuffed. Some much is going on here you can find something new with every viewing. And when the credits roll you have something to think about or even discuss. It is not a quickly forgotten piece of fluff.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a great movie. I would dare to call The Last Wish a modern classic. It is hilarious and well written. It is a family film touching on deeper things that we can all encounter and a sequel that exceeds the original movie. While the first film was good, this is fantastic. I highly recommend it!