‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’ Spoiler Review – A Fresh Start For DreamWorks’ Fairy Tale World

Now that we are over a month since its release, can we talk about Puss in Boots: The Last Wish? We apologize for the late review, but with everything going on in the world lately, it has been difficult to get to this right away. Perhaps it was the fact that DreamWorks Animation has not had this much wide attention since 2017’s The Boss Baby and Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, as well as 2019’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. It could also be due to the fact that the studio’s major focus might have been on multiple television series hitting streaming platforms. Whatever the reason, we are glad to see another film in the Shrek franchise being released–and to great success!

The film is directed by Joel Crawford (the Kung-Fu Panda series, Shrek Forever After, Rise of the Guardians) and co-directed by Januel P. Mercado (Kung-Fu Panda 2, Turbo). Paul Fisher (Flushed Away) and Tommy Swerdlow (Howard the Duck, Spaceballs, Child’s Play) penned the screenplay for this project. Swerdlow and Tom Wheeler (The Cape, Puss in Boots, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) wrote the story, with additional screenplay material by Etan Cohen (King of the Hill, Tropic Thunder, Men in Black 3).

In this review, I will be discussing Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. There will be spoilers present throughout, as the title of this article suggests. Nonetheless, please read ahead at your own discretion.

Discussion

Everything about this film is excellent–from its talented array of voice actors to the unique animation style (much different from what we have seen in previous Shrek films) to Pereira’s musical scoring to the very character-driven story itself. Whenever I hear of a new great animated project becoming a topic of discourse, I always make sure to check it out myself, The Last Wish included.

While the first Puss in Boots film (2011) takes place before the four Shrek films, this second film takes place afterward. The Last Wish is as much an adventure film as its predecessor. However, instead of a map leading to literal riches, its characters are in pursuit of something larger, something fulfilling. It also follows a similar architecture as previous Shrek films. The film involves the inclusion of uncanny fairy tale characters, most of whom we have not yet seen in the DreamWorks franchise.

Cinema

Leave it to the film’s extensive crew of animators and storyboard artists to present us with a cohesive story full of neat action sequences where characters are on an adventurous and life-threatening search for more than what life has to offer. In addition to the music, Crawford and Mercado’s film features superb sound designs from Jennings, Walston, and Hromadka. This includes the rapid pumping and thumping of the protagonist’s heartbeats and the spine-tingling noises of an antagonist’s whistles. They make for a more chilling story as it progresses through an hour and forty-two-minute runtime.

While its artistic style is compared to that of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, I would not go so far as to state that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish features mixed media. There is something about the film that is awe-inspiring and yet is in the same vein as the first film. This time, however, the viewer knows that its hero’s existence has been established, and we learn that he is growing and aging just like anybody else. That is just the harsh reality of things.

The Story

Swerdlow and Wheeler’s story begins with Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) recklessly dying in a battle with an earth giant. The cat bandit is told he is down to his final one of nine lives, a serious matter that does not immediately register with him. I mean, this is the same outlaw that long-time fans were introduced to nearly nineteen years ago. He is still going strong, so… what could possibly go wrong? Right? Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was written in such a way that raises the stakes for our furry protagonist. Enter the Wolf (voiced by Wagner Moura), who is eventually revealed to be Death. Literally.

Death is an adversary that Puss cannot defeat, and it is all for a profound purpose. We know for a fact that legends never die. If our fierce feline sees himself as a legend, then what does that say about his mortality? Puss in Boots is put to the test. Unfortunately, even with the help of his ex-partner Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek Pinault) and a new dog in town, Perrito (voiced by Harvey Guillén), he cannot run from Death.

Matters only get take a turn for the worst for Puss, as his party has to face the likes of Goldilocks (voiced by Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears (voiced by Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, and Samson Kayo), along with “Big” Jack Horner (voiced by John Mulaney) and his Baker’s Dozen gang. A huge round of applause to Cohen, Fisher, and Swerdlow for the narrative beats of the film. In the end, we learn that life is only worth living once one realizes what they have to lose. For Puss, it is those he holds closest, which is also the case for Goldilocks and not so much Horner.

The Crew Behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is produced by Mark Swift. It is executive produced by Andrew Adamson and Chris Meledandri.

Heidi Jo Gilbert is the head of story. James Ryan is the editor of the film, while Darren Holmes is the editor of the pre-production. Jacquelyn Karambelas, Natalia Cronembold, and Karl Armstrong are the associate editors.

Heitor Pereira scores the film. Julian Slater and Jason W. Jennings are the supervising sound editors, while Slater and Greg P. Russell are the re-record mixers. Slamm Andrews is the music editor for the film. Gavin Greenaway is the conductor, while John Prestage is the score editor.

Christi Soper Hilt serves as the casting director. Lara Boushehri is the casting associate, while Carley Johnson is the casting assistant.

For the post-production, Jason W. Jennings and Tim Walston serve as the sound designers. Ken McGill is the sound effects editor, while Rick Hromadka is the sound designer for DreamWorks.

The Animation Crew

Nate Wragg serves as the production designer of the film, while Joseph Feinsilver is the art director.

Ludovic Bouancheau is the head of character animation, while Chris Stover is the head of layout. Michael Necci is the head of lighting.

Julien Bocabeille, Laurent Caneiro, Willy Harber, Jakob Hjort Jensen, Fabio Lignini, and Dan Wagner are the animation supervisors.

Tony K. Williams is the modeling supervisor, while Ken Yu is the modeling lead.

Damon Riesberg is the character effects supervisor. Andrea Blasich and Jesús Alonso Iglesias serve as the character designers.

Matt Flynn, Evon Freeman, Naz Ghodrati-Azadi (The Boys Presents: Diabolical), Gary Graham, Anthony Holden, Hanna Kim, Warren Leonhardt, Steven MacLeod, Taylor Meacham, Bill Riling, Marceline Tanguay, and Simon Wells serve as storyboard artists.

Aaron Austin, Jeff Biancalana, Cody Cameron, Alice Herring, Colin Jack, Kaan Kalyon, Danny Langston, Michael Lester, Johane Matte, Chris Mitchell, Lyle Nagy, John Puglisi, David Wolter, and Anthony Zierhut serve as the additional storyboard artists.

Mark Edwards serves as the visual effects supervisor.

The Cast of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Antonio Banderas (the Spy Kids franchise, The Legend of Zorro, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Uncharted) voices the titular character, Puss in Boots. Salma Hayek Pinault (From Dusk Till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, Savages, Grown Ups, Sausage Party, The Hitman’s Bodyguard & The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Eternals) reprises her voice role from Puss in Boots (2011) as Kitty Softpaws. Harvey Guillén (The Internship, Werewolves Within, What We Do in the Shadows) voices Perrito, a friendly therapy dog and an ally of the two cats.

Florence Pugh (Black Widow, Hawkeye, Don’t Worry Darling) voices Goldilocks. Olivia Colman (Fleabag, The Crown, The Mitchells vs the Machines, Secret Invasion, Wonka), Ray Winstone (Beowulf, Rango, Hugo, Black Widow), and Samson Kayo (Our Flag Means Death) voice Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and Baby Bear, respectively.

John Mulaney (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) voices “Big” Jack Horner, the primary antagonist of the film. Wagner Moura (Elysium, Narcos, The Gray Man) voices the Wolf/ Death.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph voices Mama Luna, the owner of a cat rescue shelter. Anthony Mendez voices a doctor at the beginning of the film. Kevin McCann voices the Ethical Bug, while Bernardo De Paula voices the Governor of del Mar.

Betsy Sodaro (An American Pickle, Hubie Halloween) and Artemis Pebdani (Scandal, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Sex Appeal) voice Jo Serpent and Jan Serpent, two twin sisters who deliver the map to the Wishing Star to Jack Horner.

Conrad Vernon and Cody Cameron briefly appear as the voices of “Gingy” the gingerbread man and Pinocchio, respectively.

Kailey Crawford voices Little Goldi.

Additional Voices

Al Rodrigo voices the bartender at the beginning of the film.

Bob Persichetti voices the Ohhh Cat.

Miguel Matrai voices a little boy. De Paula also voices the little boy’s father and a male partier. Pilar Uribe voices the Governor’s assistant and a female partier.

Heidi Gardner voices the last baker. Joel Crawford voices a band member and a Baker’s Dozen Gang Member. Januel P. Mercado also voices a band member and a Baker’s Dozen Gang Member.

James Ryan voices a little Jack audience member, as well as a Baker’s Dozen Gang Member. Natalia Cronembold voices a waitress and a Baker’s Dozen Gang Member. Paul Fisher, Aydrea Walden, and Betsy Sodaro voices additional Baker’s Dozen Gang Members.

Performances and Character Developments

Banderas and Puss in the Boots have a lot in common as performers. They have both been in the business for what seems like decades and they have not given up doing what they love best. Banderas elevates his role perfectly in this film, showcasing the immense challenge of fleeing from Death rather than merely cheating him. Unlike his appearances in the Shrek films and more so with the first Puss in Boots, what is great about the character in this second film is his heightened anthropomorphism. His fear is present, the stress is through the roof, and thus, there is so much worry for the character.

Hayek Pinault’s development as Kitty Softpaws is just as remarkable here. We see more of her perspective that we did not get much of in the previous film. Instead of being solely another hired hand–err, paw–the character is now seen as a love interest with actual feelings and emotions. She has psychological needs that are more than safety and security. Kitty Softpaws longs for the love and company of her former partner, Puss, which makes things even more relatable.

Guillén’s Perrito is a suspicious little dog at first. However, by the time we get to know him, it turns out he is actually a pretty nice pup after all. There is a lot of praise to be had for the actor and the character, especially when Puss needs the comfort of a friend in a time of need. Perrito makes for a great companion even when Puss is having an anxiety attack. Maybe there is no trying to understand and all it takes is to be there for your loved one when they are going through something harsh.

Too Good or Too Bad?

The subplot with Goldilocks and the Three Bears is interesting. I never perceived these characters as a family in all my time of having known them to be fairy-tale figures. Swerdlow and Wheeler did a fantastic job at fulfilling Goldilocks’s own needs of love and company by the end of the film through the adoption of a furry family in the Bears. This makes for a neat juxtaposition with the two cats and the dog as a family unit themselves. I love the little nod to Hansel and Gretel when the girl finds her old library book of collected fairy tales in the Nostaglia Pines. Perhaps we will see the return of this family and a possible connection to the two siblings in a future film…

Antagonists

Mulaney as Jack Horner is different from when we have last seen him four years ago as Spider-Pig. This Baker’s Dozen mob boss is relentless and possesses care and empathy for no one, not even his own gang members. It is nice to see a character that is a collector of fairy tale items, similar to how Shrek 2‘s Fairy Godmother had shelves full of potions in her lair. I would say that I find Horner a menacing villain, if it were not the Wolf…

Moura’s Death is pristine in the way the writers introduced and developed him. The character comes from nowhere but is revealed to have been everywhere, having seen Puss die several times before. Much like an actual Wolf, he has animal instincts as if an actual predator lurking in the shadows away from view. The film gave the Wolf/ Death sufficient screentime to raise the hairs on Puss’s fur, and there were definitely times when I started to sympathize with the cat.

Final Thoughts on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is one of the stronger films in the Shrek franchise. Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After did not quite meet the success of the series’ first two films. Next to that, Puss in Boots (2011) was just good enough but seemed to show that the series had lost its mojo. The Last Wish is a film that breathes new life for the popular fairy tale world, opening the door once again to new possibilities. With Puss, Kitty Softpaws, and Perrito on a boat to Far Far Away in the epilogue, we can only hope for more Shrek stories as well as new Puss in Boots stories. The way I see it, The Last Wish serves as a soft reboot for the franchise, keeping its characters but starting off on a new slate. Let’s cross our fingers that it happens sooner than later!

Are you a fan of the Shrek franchise? If so, which of the Shrek/ Puss in Boots films is your favorite? Let us know! For more action, comedy, and romance-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

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