If you’re anything like me, you barely even registered that this was a movie that was coming out. Sure, maybe you saw a thumbnail for the trailer or something, but you probably didn’t think much of it. Yet another Shrek spinoff, and the sequel to a okay-ish movie over a decade after the original? Why was this movie being made, and who was it for?
Well, apparently it was being made because of an intense passion for film as an art form, and the desire to tell an incredibly compelling, heart-warming, and inventive story. And who is it for? As far as I’m concerned…anybody and everybody who can get their hands (or paws, if you prefer) on this film.
Defying all logic, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is one of the greatest animated films of the past five years, and maybe even the past decade. Shining up in the sky alongside Into the Spiderverse and The Mitchells vs The Machines, The Last Wish establishes itself as an animated masterwork that simply cannot be missed. No matter your feelings towards the genre, or art style, or the film industry in general, you owe it to yourself to give this all-ages epic a shot.
With absolutely not prior knowledge on the character or the world required, The Last Wish instantly sucks you into the fun with a bombastic, funny, exciting, and creative opening scene (involving a wild party and a battle against a giant monster). The tone of the movie is nailed from the very first witty visual gag, and the unique heart and humor only continues as the film progresses. This isn’t some lowest-common-denominator kid’s flick humor, either. This is genuine, clever, all-ages jokes and gags that everyone can enjoy.
Visually, the film is a feast for the eyes. From the expressive facial animations, to the vibrant backgrounds and scenery, to the anime-inspired effects and framing, and the uniquely crafted character models, everything is perfect. Recent animated films clearly inspired the general vibe of The Last Wish, but the film’s identity is still firmly its own. I especially love the transitions between hyper-detailed dramatic moments, and more cartoonish fun when the tone is lighter.
It’s specifically worth noting that the action scene choreography is incredible. Ranging from frantic chase scenes to tense one-on-one duels, there’s no action scene in this film that slacks. The music and visuals work in perfect sync, but neither would sell the deal without the clever positioning and camerawork that goes into the choreography. I touched on it earlier, but The Last Wish truly does feel like an anime through the lens of a western film studio, and I mean that as a wholehearted positive.
This all being said, let me address what is easily my favorite thing about the film: it’s purposeful distancing from it’s ‘kids film’ trappings.
Following in the vein of Kung Fu Panda 2 (yet another DreamWorks sequel masterpiece), The Last Wish pushes the boundaries of what could possibly be considered a ‘kids film’. Whether it be the surprisingly frequent (though obviously gore-free) deaths of a bunch of villainous minions, a few truly shocking gallows-humor jokes, the film’s overall thematic elements about mortality and facing the end of life, or the spine-chillingly terrifying main antagonist, The Last Wish is firmly a family movie, and not a little tyke flick (it’d actually probably be best to keep super young viewers away from the film until they’re a bit older).
There’s genuinely basically nothing that I could levy at the film as some sort of flaw. Every possible stumbling block (potential exhausted Shrek-universe storytelling, a huge assortment of villains with different motives, a chatty and overly energetic companion character) is leapt over with aplomb, the film turning pitfalls into chances to shine even brighter. If I had to mention anything, it would be that the film didn’t make me cry. The core theme of the film is incredible, and the ending is cathartic, but I’m always eager to give bonus points to a movie (or book/show/game) that makes cry, and The Last Wish stopped just short of that final push.
Still a masterpiece of course. Please, please go see it, so movie studios take note and the western animation industry is finally revolutionized!
9.5/10
The Contrarian Corner 