Puss In Boots
201190 minutes
rated PG
by Scott Mendelson
Puss In Boots could have just been a 'one-off' picture from the prolific Dreamworks Animation department. As a spin-off for a popular supporting character from the Shrek series, it has arguably more built-in appeal than something along the lines of How to Train Your Dragon or Megamind. The film is already likely to be a big hit no matter how good or bad it is. But the gang at the current House of Katzenberg refuse to take such easy roads to profitability. What could have been a cheap and easy spin-off is instead a surprisingly engaging and richly constructed adventure film. It is yet another sign that Dreamworks is every bit the equal of the Mouse House and they plan on staying there not by 'having their finger on the pulse of popular culture', but by merely making really good cartoons that respect their audience. And that's what Puss In Boots is. It's not as breathlessly exciting as How to Train Your Dragon nor is it as epic and emotionally profound as Kung Fu Panda 2. With strong vocals, a simple-but-satisfying story, occasionally eye-popping visuals, and another master-class in 3D, Puss In Boots is simply a darn good cartoon.
