Steven Stone

As someone who is both a cat owner and mega fan of DreamWorks' legendary Shrek franchise, all I can say is that the dapper feline's solo escapade is one of the most delightful movies I ever had the pleasure of watching. The Last Wish is also solid proof that Puss In Boots has become such a beloved character in his own right that he can easily entertain families with his cute charms as well as his hammy Zorro-inspired personality which Antonio Banderas does a phenomenal job of bringing to life. The movie's plot is a simple enough affair that children will be able to effortlessly grasp the plot while also having some surprisingly dark undertones and mature themes that I was pleasantly surprised were tackled as gracefully as they were, such as the titular feline's struggle with his fear of death while striving to keep up his façade of being a fearless warrior. The two newcomers to the film that accompany Puss are also incredibly likeable in their own right. The homeless puppy is delightfully innocent, while Kitty Softpaws is a great example of a female animated character done right and she serves as an excellent foil to the main protagonist. I cannot recommend this film enough to both children and their parents in equal measures. The kiddies will be entertained while their parents will also be engaged and get more than a few chuckles from the jokes that poke fun at numerous fairy tales and variety of pop culture references.