Every time I ask someone if they’ve seen Puss in Boots: The Last Wish or are planning on seeing it, I get one of three reactions. The first possible reaction is some version of them asking me, “Why would I want to waste money seeing a stupid kids’ movie?” The second reaction consists of people telling me they’ve heard it’s gotten a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and they’re ITCHING to see it. The last reaction results in excitement, hugs and tears as we talk about the movie in great detail and how it’s changed the trajectory of our lives.
The majority of these interactions elicit the first reaction- why would I want to see some stupid kids’ movie? First off, I get it. About a month ago, my friend asked if I would join them in seeing Puss in Boots. I initially waved them off, telling them I would rather see the new horror movie that just came out, Megan. I then started seeing people post TikToks of them crying after seeing the movie, relating to some therapy dog character, and in the captions relaying how badly they wanted to rewatch it. I looked up the Rotten Tomatoes score, the film community on social media started raving about it and sure enough, my opinion had completely flipped.
So my friend and I ditched seeing Megan and bought our tickets for Puss in Boots. I came out of the theater in not only complete agreement with other critics, but also with a waterfall of tears streaming down my cheeks.
So, what makes the new Puss in Boots movie so good? Why should you go see it?
Reason #1: Animation is not Just for Kids!
I know, seeing an ad on TV about a talking cat walking around in boots may not seem too appealing to teenagers and adults, but this film is much more than the physical limitations of its protagonists and villains. It deals with a very mature subject that everyone at some point worries about- death. Death is scary for everyone, so what better way to talk about something heavy through a light, easily digestible medium like animation?
Except for the Big Bad Wolf that plays “death” in the film is actually terrifying. Like, I might’ve peed in my seat a little during a few of those scenes. Seriously.
Reason #2: The Quality
The story, the animation and voice acting all combined make this film drip with excellence. The animation style changes throughout the film, at times, giving us that incredible Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse feel. No detail went unthought of, all strings in every filmmaking aspect of this movie were tied at a superior level. The voice acting also showcased a star-studded cast, including Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, John Mulaney and many more. The quality of this film is top-notch in every aspect and is just one of the many reasons why people all over the world are showing their appreciation for this film.
Reason #3: The Messages & Themes
The messages and themes explored are the main reason why I won’t shut up about this movie. I legitimately get chills just thinking about how the movie made me feel. Besides the main theme of dealing with death, this film also talks about anxiety, relationships, being grateful for what you have, stopping to smell the roses every once in a while, owning up to your actions, the dangers of having a big ego and more. The layers in this film are never-ending, leaving you with a full heart as you exit the theater with an empty popcorn container. I think it was incredibly creative, thoughtful and brave of the creators at DreamWorks to talk about issues people will encounter throughout their entire lives with a primarily younger audience as their target consumers. I think films like this set younger people up for success and aid adult audience members in dealing with these matters they may be currently struggling with.
I could add about twenty more reasons to this list, but in the meantime here are three reasons you should go see it in theaters or stream it when it’s available. As you can probably tell, I love this movie with my whole being and I can’t wait to watch it… will it be my fourth time already? For the fourth time it is then. Here’s to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which might end up as my favorite movie of 2023!