Danger, peril ratchet up a notch for charismatic cat.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Characters face frequent threats, including death in the form of a scary assassin wolf. Puss is killed in an early scene but comes back to life because he's a cat. He then reviews the (comical) ways he was killed eight previous times (including being shot out of a cannon, being squashed by a heavy weight, falling from a significant height, etc.). Animated action sequences involve swords and knives, ominous journeys through menacing settings, fights, falls, explosions, fire, crashes, and so on. Jack Horner is cruel, intimidating, and quick to risk others' lives. One of his minions is eaten by a plant; his skeleton is shown. Puss has a panic attack.
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"Hell," "crap," "wuss," "butt," "pooping," "idiot," "freaking," "stupid," "weird," "bull," "jerks," "fat" (as an insult), and words (seems like mostly "s--t") that are bleeped out. "Dingleberries" are mentioned.
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Part of the Puss in Boots and Shrek franchises, which come with a lot of off-screen merchandising.
Positive Messages
a lot
Family is where you find it, who you make it. If we only have one life to live, we should make the most of it and surround ourselves with those we love. Fame can be lonely and its pursuit ultimately meaningless; true connections with others are more valuable.
Positive Role Models
some
Puss ultimately realizes how much he cares for others in his life and makes sacrifices for them. Kitty Softpaws sets resentment aside to rescue Puss and Perrito and work with them as a team. Perrito's positive outlook makes his life's path much easier; he's a good and loyal friend. Goldilocks and the bears seek out trouble but are a strong family unit. Jack Horner is a clear villain, but his backstory does attempt to give him some relatability.
Diverse Representations
some
Voice cast is led by Spanish and Latino actors (Banderas, Hayek, Guillén, etc.) who mix Spanish words and phrases into their dialogue and singing. Other lead characters are voiced by international actors, mostly from the United States, England, Brazil. A minor character (a woman who takes in stray cats) is Black. But "fat" is used as an insult, and Jack Horner's size/shape is suggested to be part of what makes him unappealing.
Kids may pick up some words in Spanish if they don't already know them. From Perrito's model, they can learn the value of positive thinking and of supporting your friends.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish -- which centers on popular Shrek 2 character Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) -- ratchets up the franchise's peril a notch. Puss is down to the last of his nine lives, and he's pursued throughout the movie by a creepy, whistling manifestation of death in the form of a wolf who wields two sharp crescent-shaped swords. In his pursuit of the mystical Last Wish, which could restore his squandered lives, Puss encounters a series of other menacing characters, ominous situations, and violent fights (with swords, knives, and other weapons). But he also learns lessons about the value of positive thinking, working with others, and prioritizing loved ones over selfish pursuits. The voice cast, led by a Spanish and Latino cast, peppers the dialogue with Spanish. Language includes "hell," "crap," "wuss," "butt," "pooping," "idiot," "freaking," "stupid," "weird," and some bleeped words. Puss is shown staggeringly drunk in a couple of scenes that are played for humor. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
A high quality cartoon which adults will probably like, but may really scare young kids. My eight year old said it was almost too scary.
This is basically Final Destination for kids: the famous cat Puss in Boots is followed by death itself (in the form of El Lobo), and it's the only thing that's ever frightened even Puss himself. His hair stands on end whenever he's in the wolf's presence, and the wolf carries some terrifyingly sharp hooks and continues to say that he's looking forward to taking Puss's last life. There is also another villain who doesn't hold back in wanting to kill anything that gets in his way, including his own men.
For older/less sensitive kids as well as parents, you'll probably really enjoy this well-made adventure, and its conclusion about the importance of family.
Intense, frightening characters, best for older kids
I am SO glad I read the parent reviews on this site before a group of our family went to this movie over the holidays. I was able to *correctly* assess that it would be too scary and intense for my 5-year old, so we didn’t let him come along (he got to do other fun things - don’t worry). My 8 and 12 year olds were both covering their eyes in parts because that Death wolf - and every scene with him in it - is indeed frightening. The movie had some entertaining and heartfelt parts, but it was on-the-whole quite intense. There was not as much comic relief as in other movies from this series. I was also surprised the writers chose to add light swearing to a film that would be animated and advertised to kids. I’d say this is solidly for upper elementary and older audiences.
What's the Story?
Fearless hero Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) is enjoying the spoils of his fame when he's unexpectedly killed at the start of PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH. As he's brought back to life, he's warned that he has now run through eight of his nine lives. The reality of his mortality fills Puss with a newfound fear of death. This is amplified by the menacing wolf (Wagner Moura) who begins pursuing him, promising to take his last life. Puss goes into hiding at a cat rescue home, where he meets an innocent and lonely chihuahua, Perrito (Harvey Guillén), who clings to Puss as his new best friend. One day, the three bears (Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, and Samson Kayo) and Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) show up at Puss' hideout, and the cat overhears their plans to make off with a magical map that will lead them to the mystical Last Wish -- which could perhaps be the secret of regaining his immortality. Puss takes off, Perrito on his tail, to find the map and make his wish. En route, he encounters more threats, especially Jack Horner (John Mulaney), and runs into old flame Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek Pinault).
Shrek's charismatic cat buddy is back in fine form in this action-packed sequel. But Puss in Boots: The Last Wish might have done well to focus more on its characters, both familiar and new, and less on the nonstop action. The chase and fight scenes are visually impressive, but, narratively, they get old quickly. What doesn't get old is Puss' smug confidence in his feline fierceness and "fearless hero" status -- or adorable newcomer Perrito's innate goodness. It's almost a letdown when the fantabulous opening musical number gives way to a traditional chase and fight scene. The voice cast -- led by Banderas, love interest Hayek, and newcomer Guillén as the charming chihuahua -- is once again purr-fect. And the movie throws in quite a bit of Spanish in ways both natural (exclamations) and complementary (the soundtrack).
The music is one of the film's standout elements. Overseen by Brazilian composer Heitor Pereira, the soundtrack ranges from original pieces sung by Pereira and Banderas or Latin American stars like Gaby Moreno and Karol G to reworked classics, like a Spanish-infused version of The Doors' "The End" (Puss' own Apocalypse Now?). The story's blend of fairy tale characters can be a tad confusing -- menacing villain Jack Horner, a selfish Goldilocks sometimes confused for Bo Peep, and a big, bad wolf. It's part of the Shrek franchise's personality, but unrecognized characters could have functioned just as well and maybe have been less muddied, allowing even more focus on the fanciful felines. The reality is that many viewers will come for the cat -- and this latest adventure does assure that they'll stay for the cat.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what Puss learns over the course of his adventures in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. What do Perrito and Kitty Softpaws show him through their own actions? How do they all learn to work as a team?
MPAA explanation:
action/violence, rude humor/language, and some scary moments
Last updated:
August 7, 2024
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