Puss In Boots is an Animated Triumph
Film
When you think of 2022 sequels that were released 10 plus years after the original the first film that comes to mind would probably be Avatar: The Way of Water. Certainly this makes plenty of sense. Avatar was a phenomenal success, and James Cameron refused to settle for lackluster technology required for underwater motion capture, so he waited for a decade and some change. The result being one of the best films of the year and another billion dollar gross for Big Jim. However, another late-release sequel has been garnering accolades and box office numbers just the same (relatively speaking). I'm referring to the fantastic new addition to the Shrek-Universe, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish!
The original Puss in Boots, starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, was released back in 2011 to critical acclaim. One would imagine that waiting over a decade for an animated sequel may have resulted in stagnant fandom or a regression in film quality, but to the doubters director Joel Crawford simply said, "hold my beer."
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a star-studded ensemble returning Banderas and Hayek, along with wonderful additions of Harvey Guillén, John Mulaney, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, and Samson Kayo to name a few. Not only is the cast impeccable, the animation style is a mesmerizing fusion of the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Mitchell's Vs. The Machines styles. The slow frame rate for action combined with a whimsical painted layer adds some wonderful texture to the picture and boasts some of the best animated action sequences of the year!
Even after all of these points, there's still the real shine behind the film, the story. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has our titular hero grappling with reality that he has spent eight of his nine lives, thus becoming truly mortal. Lucky for Puss in Boots there's a wishing star that has crashed deep in the dark forest that presents hope for wishing his total nine lives back! Unfortunately, Puss in Boots and his unlikely ally Perrito (Guillen) must best or befriend others looking for the star including Kitty Softpaws (Hayek), Jack Horner (Mulaney), Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and a mysterious cloaked Wolf. The Wolf, turns out to be the physical form of Death itself and has come to collect Puss in Boots' final life due to his arrogance and haphazard respect of life.
Overall, the themes of mortality, hubris, and unlikely friendships showcase in a delightfully warm, entertaining way. The depiction of fear, with Puss in Boots' hair raising and Banderas' voice acting, is a potent display instilling suspense at each turn. Not to mention Perrito, Goldilocks, and Kitty Softpaws all have their own beautiful character journeys rounding out a cadre of fantastical characters that are fun to watch evolve.
Froth
After reeling from his first encounter with Death, Puss in Boots succumbs to the laidback appeal of retirement. Trading in his boots for kitten mittens, he settles down in Mama Luna's house that operates as a feline rescue sanctuary that is most definitely not up to code. In order to truly feel the level of comfort and safety Puss in Boots receives at Mama Luna's, one must pair this viewing with their own pair of kitten mittens. Luckily, Kulshan Brewing has a delightfully toasty, warming, and sumptuous winter ale called Kitten Mittens! Possibly brewed for this exact moment (this is clearly conjecture) the Kitten Mittens Winter Ale is a spot-on companion to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish!
The film is a fun thrill ride of astounding animation and warm character development, while the beer serves as a cozy blanket of keep you in an optimal state of "I'm never leaving this couch." Its medium body makes it an easy sipper, while the subtle sweetness of figs, chocolate, and toasted malt warm you up like a great pair of mittens.
Kitten Mittens to be exact! Sorry, I have to say it one more time. Its almost as fun to say as Puss in Boots.
Kitten Mittens. Nice.
