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Puss In Boots: The Last Wish 4K UHD Review

“Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” is the best Shrek universe movie since “Shrek 2.” 

Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado, “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” is a sequel in which the titular adventurous outlaw discovers he is down to his last life. Worse still, death seems to be hunting him (in the form of a deadly wolf). Wanting to give up his former life, he decides to become a housecat, but of course, that doesn’t last long. Alongside Perrito (a dog who posed as a fellow housecat), the two become embroiled in a scramble for a map to the Wishing Star which will grant any wish. Towering pastry chef and collector Big Jack Horner currently possesses it, but the crime gang Goldilocks and the 3 Bears and Puss’s former love Kitty Softpaws are also after the map. 

“Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” seemed like an out of the blue release given that the last movie was in 2011 (and the fact that fans have been clamoring for a fifth Shrek for ages now). Writers Paul Fisher and Tommy Swerlow shocked the real world as the sequel not only surpasses the original in every way, but manages to be a rather moving journey about mortality, friendship, death, life and caring for others. Sure, the story may feature a lot of scenes of characters running around for a map and looking for the star, but there’s a lot going on here character wise. Goldilocks realizes she has a family, Puss and Kitty have to come to terms with their feelings for one another, Perrito makes friends, Puss has to face the fact that he has only one life to live now and so forth. Pretty weighty themes for an animated sequel. 

Although Puss’s journey is the focal point of the movie (and an involving one at that), the supporting characters that really elevate this movie. Perrito steals every scene he’s in and the movie itself. He’s the heart of the movie in many ways. Likewise, Kitty Softpaws’ dynamic with Puss In Boots added extra layers to the movie. Goldilocks and the 3 Bears also proved to be a fun addition as they aren’t quite what you’d expect from the fairy tale versions. The only character who doesn’t flourish here is the villainous Big Jack Horner. He’s the weak link here and takes away valuable screentime from everything else that works. 

In terms of the voice acting, Antonio Banderas was born to play the title role. You can’t imagine anyone else doing it as he has made it his own. Salma Hayek Pinault as Kitty and Florence Pugh as Goldilocks bring so much life and humor to their characters. Harvey Guillen (of “What We Do In The Shadows” fame) deserves an award for his portrayal of Perrito. He’s that good.

The animation (which is in the vein of “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse”) is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s a combination of standard CGI animation mixed with a more hand painted illustration esque look. It’s very stylized and eye-catching and works wonders here. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p HDR10. How does it look?  This is the kind of picture quality 4K fans look for. A perfect transfer with eye-popping vibrant colors.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? Whether there’s an epic action or a rousing score track, this Atmos track soars.

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* Commentary by directors Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado, producer Mark Swift, editor James Ryan and head of story Heidi Jo Gilbert.
* “How To Make A Paper Perrito” and “How To Draw The Purrfect Pawtrait.”
* “Fearless Hero” lyric video.
* 3 deleted scenes.
* “The Trident”- The centerpiece of the extras is a brand new animated short in which Puss recounts a past adventure.
* “A Cast Of Characters”- 6 character profiles complete with interviews for Puss In Boots, Kitty Softpaws, Perrito, Goldilocks and the Bears, Jack Horner and Wolf.
* “In The Beginning”- Interviews and discussions about the character, the franchise, the story and characters and more.
* “Jack Horner’s Line-O-Rama”- Alternate lines from voice actor John Mulaney.
* “Kitty Cam”- Footage of real cats at play mixed with footage from the film.

February 28, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Antonio Banderas, Florence Pugh, Goldilocks And The 3 Bears, Perrito, Puss In Boots, Puss In Boots 2, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish 4K UHD Review, Shrek