December 16, 2023
Spiritually Speaking at the Movies: Puss in Boots: the Last Wish.
There is pride, there is repentance, there is restoration, there is revelation and renewal. There is a quest, a dream and then humility leading to reward; and most of all there is fun, fun fun. This a rarity among movies, one in a hundred — a movie with a spiritual subtext that is right on the money 99 percent of the time. Here’s a third-in-series film that actually takes the Puss in Boots storyline to a better place than its predecessors. If you didn’t want to chance being disappointed by yet another sequel when The Last Wish was released at Christmas 2022, take that chance now.
This movie is so good, so layered with spiritual insights, that the film is a little treasure of a movie perfectly placed right at the confluence of the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. It tells the story of the condition of the heart if it could have anything it wanted — or thought it needed. That’s what packs the punch — and provides the spiritual payoff — of a fast moving, fun to watch, cleverly written script, setting it apart from nothing-but-action stories that seem satisfying at first glance, but leave the spirit malnourished.
Q: Should you see The Last Wish in December, along with “regular” Christmas movies? Absolutely. There are visuals in the treasure map that the questers earnestly seek, that will keep young viewers unpacking truths on multiple viewings, right along the idea of the greatest gift of all — love. Think “Pilgrim’s Progress” put to CGI extravaganza and fast-paced story telling.
There are some deep thoughts included that belie the expectations of “just” a kid’s movie. For instance, a persistent character called Death, is on the line in Puss n’ Boots, but done in such a way that most pre-teens won’t have nightmares. Adults can consider what is being said on a deeper level.
Antonio Banderas (Zorro, Journey to Bethlehem) expertly voices the sword-bearing, over-confident Puss and plays well with others. Kitty Soft-Paws is voiced by Salma Hayek and sweet, naive Perroito (who teaches the sophisticated cats a thing or two) by Harvey Guillen.
The three Kitty-Tiers make it work; the chemistry is there. Comedy relief is plentiful, especially in the “crime family” of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The easy to identify-with problems of the heart and soul are bared without using frustrating writers tricks to delay revelations needed for the characters to reach resolution.
There are some surprisingly grown-up insights for adults to consider. There are also references only adults will get, such as an allusion to Jimmy Stewart as the cricket conscience to a character in the movie that really needs it. No matter, The kids’s won’t notice, while adults fondly remember George Bailey’s Bedford Falls (It’s a Wonderful Life) or Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, released by DreamWorks in December of 2022 is available on DVD, to Netflix subscribers for free, or other streaming services for a price. Rated PG, 1 Hour 42 minutes.
