Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

“Fear me if you dare!” is the famous line of Puss in Boots. Many remember watching the childhood classic movie which came out in 2011. However, Universal Studios wanted to draw their viewers in for another adventure with this beloved cat. I went to Regal UA Galaxy Theater on 96th Street to get the true movie experience. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” combines classic childhood fairy tales with deeper messages to make a fun, lighthearted movie that is enjoyable for viewers of any age.
The movie begins with Puss in Boots throwing a party in his honor. He proclaims that he can fight any enemy that may come his way. However shortly after, Puss in Boots is struck with fear when he comes face to face with the Big Bad Wolf, who he will later know as Death. Puss in Boots has used up eight of his nine lives, and Death is coming for him.
Out of fear, along with the advice of his doctor, Puss in Boots decides to go into hiding for the rest of his life. He winds up at Mama Luna’s cat haven. There he lives, quite miserably, with hundreds of other cats. This is until Goldilocks and The Three Bears show up in search of him. They want to hire Puss in Boots to steal the map of The Last Wish from Jack Horner because Goldilocks believes she needs a “real family” that is not the three bears. She longs for a family who looks like her.
However, Puss in Boots believes that if he receives The Last Wish, he will be able to wish for his lives back and escape death forever. When stealing the map, he meets up with an old romantic interest, Kitty Softpaws. Puss in Boots also unintentionally brings along a new friend from the cat haven, who will eventually be named Perro. It turns into a race to see who can make it to the wishing star first.
As a whole, the movie is fun and family-friendly. It fills many of its viewers with happiness and laughter. I found Universal’s choice to include several other fairytale characters exciting and nostalgic. Puss in Boots’ struggle with death portrays a common fear many humans struggle with. I found it very satisfying that Puss in Boots was only able to defeat Death when he came to terms with it. I think this portrayal of death is especially helpful for the younger generation. It allows them to grasp such a vast and seemingly daunting topic in a lighthearted manner. The movie received a 95% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. I definitely agree with this rating. It is worth going out to the theater to see.