Review of film: “PUSS IN BOOTS” = A “PREQUEL” of SEQUELS

2011, 10-22:

Review of film:  “PUSS IN BOOTS”  = A “PREQUEL” of SEQUELS

This 90-minute PG-rated film (directed by CHRIS MILLER) is, in-effect, a “PREQUEL” designed to give the “background” of a character named Puss which appeared in 2 animated SEQUEL films— “SHREK 2” in 2004 & “SHREK THE THIRD” in 2007...

...  The swashbuckling cat named “Puss” was added as a “side” character in those films, & was voiced by ANTONIO BANDERAS...  Because it proved very popular with the general public, it’s now gotten its “OWN” movie:

...  Here, we meet-up with a “YOUNGER” Puss (again voiced by Antonio)...  Puss is a confident male cat, & also proud of the fancy BOOTS he wears...

...  We soon see him in an old-West-style BAR-ROOM with some “tough” characters who start to make fun of him...   Antonio fancies himself a “cat-ty” LADIES-man, & does not tolerate anyone making “demeaning” remarks about him...

...  He soon warns the others in the bar that they’d be wise to NOT kid about the idea that he might supposedly be “chasing” any ball of YARN!...  When they persist in their demeanor, he soon brandishes his sword & shows them he’s SERIOUS...

...  Antonio eventually meets an old FRIEND of his, namely, HUMPTY-DUMPTY (voiced by ZACH GALIFIANAKIS)...

...  Humpty has been engaged in some “improper” behavior, & the law authorities --  as shown by the Comandante (voiced by GUILLERMO DEL TORO) -- want him to “PAY” for his transgressions...

...  Not wanting to see anything bad happen to a buddy, Antonio uses FORCE to “SAVE” Zach from his fate...

...  In time, Antonio ends-up fighting a MASKED black-clothed cat who turns out to be Kitty Softpaws (voiced by SALMA HAYEK), who isn’t impressed by his conceited self-important behavior...

...  Once Humpty is “freed”, he eventually makes clear he has an “AGENDA”:  he wants Antonio’s help in getting possession of some Magic glowing BEANS...

...  Those beans have the ability to grow a gigantic BEANSTALK which will lead up to the clouds where a GIANT lives...

...  The giant owns a proverbial “Golden GOOSE” which lays golden EGGS--  & it’s that super-valuable goose that Zach wants to get POSSESSION of because it could provide him with an “EASY LIFE”...

...  For some not-super-clear reason, adventurous Antonio decides to JOIN Zach in his quest, & Salma also agrees to accompany them...

...  Naturally, there’s a major PROBLEM they need to solve:  the beans are in control of a big TOUGH couple I call the “HILL Gang”:  JACK (voiced by BILLY BOB THORNTON) – who says he HATES cats -- & his companion JILL (voiced by AMY SEDARIS)...

...  Billy Bob has the beans encased in a box “locked” around his HAND which holds them, protected by Jill...

  

...   He & Jill are riding thru the countryside in a stagecoach type vehicle, & Antonio & the others ride horses to chase AFTER them...

 

...  Well, by “hook” & via crook, Antonio’s group GETS the beans, & uses them to create the beanstalk to get them into the CLOUDS to try to get the Giant’s GOOSE (literally besides “figuratively”!)...

...  Will Antonio be able to get CONTROL of the goose (using disguises, etc.)--  or will there be a CAT-astrophe?!...

...  Is Zach “HIDING” any vital information from Antonio?...

...  Will Salma prove to be a CAT-alyst for a closer relationship with “sexy” Antonio?...  Or will things turn CAT-aclysmic?...

...  There’s a fair amount of HUMOR (some of it a bit “adult” in allusions) in the movie--  tho the story-line is somewhat “WEAK” & overly far-fetched in its contrived plot...

...  The main thing of special value here is the clever & well-done 3-D (with quite effective DEPTH) & its fine ANIMATION (such as the “chase” & fight scenes, + “simple” things like Antonio’s humorously slurping MILK from a glass in the bar-room)...

...  Because it’s a lot of FUN overall, I’m rating it at 8.00 out of 10 stars...

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