As a spin-off of Shrek, and an attempt to take a popular character and riff on his past, post-ironically, Puss in Boots is passable. In fact, if it wasn't for another CG effort from 2011 stealing its spaghetti western homage thunder, it would be pretty darn good. Unfortunately, Rango came along this Spring and bought up all the sun-drenched sizzle, and did it with much more style and panache. With that inventive entertainment sitting silently in the back of your mind, with the realization that this nothing more than a way to extend a franchise's already meandering shelf life, Puss becomes a plodding, pointless experience. Even the use of 3D can't infuse this item with any more purpose.
After years in exile as a wanted bandit, Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) is tired of running. When he discovers that the outlaws Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thorton and Amy Sedaris) are in possession of the mythic "magic beans," he is soon in hot pursuit. With the enchanted items, anyone with the knowledge can grow the legendary beanstalk and access the giant's skyscraping castle...and his gold egg laying goose. Unfortunately, childhood friend -- and current rival -- Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) wants the legumes for his very own and he hires cat burglar Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) to help. When Puss discovers this, he is outraged. Eventually, he is tricked into teaming up with the egg and his pals. Our hero is eager to make good on a failed promise from the past, though he still has issues with his ovum pal's intentions.
With its nods to Leone and other retro gimmickry (split screen, slow motion, multiple angles) Puss in Boots is desperate to impress. In fact, it tries so hard to be cool and hip that it winds up missing the meaning of said terms almost completely. Instead of playing with the parameters of the standard fairytale a la its source, this tired tie-in grabs at anything it thinks can forward its commercial potential. Considering how bad this could have been, the results are reasonably engaging. But with the artform advancing beyond such paltry basics, something like this just can't compete. Heck, Dreamworks' own How to Train Your Dragon is a better example of the type than this tepid try.The main problem is Puss himself. He's a complementary character, not starring vehicle material. Once you've heard his tomcat purr regarding his amorous pursuits, he's basically spent as a personality. Everything else is swashbuckling and over-directed action. Chris Miller, whose previous credits include the worst of the famed green ogre's adventures (Shrek the Third) just can't conjure up any thrills. Instead, as Puss is running across Spanish tile rooftops or spinning among the leaves of a growing vine, it's the dimensional diversion that's required to pick up the pace. It's inevitable, especially when mandatory 3D substitutes for creativity.
And yet, there is nothing really wrong with what Puss in Boots wants to do. It's designed to keep the kiddies quiet while Mom and Dad earn their 85 minutes of down time. It takes characters everyone cares about and puts them in recognizable, mostly "awwwww" inspiring dilemmas. The best thing about Rango was that it played with both the archetypes and the formulas. Here, Miller and company embrace the sameness that sold the series in the first place. With limited laughs and an even smaller collection of quirks, Puss in Boots is clearly formulated to find its target audience and satisfy it. While fans won't leave disappointed, they sure won't come away with anything new or novel.
