Movie Review: Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots, the new animated flick from DreamWorks, is a great film for kids and parents alike.

It features the voices of several well-known actors, including Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis and Billy Bob Thornton.

The story follows Puss (Banderas) being reunited with a childhood friend who betrayed him, Humpty Alexander Dumpty (Galifiankis), and their quest for golden eggs. Like the Shrek films, also done by Dreamworks and of which this Puss in Boots is spun off from, this film makes use of a range of favorite nursery rhymes to tell its unique story.

For example, the villains in the story are notorious husband and wife outlaws Jack (Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris).  In one scene, Jill comments that Jack has not been the same since he fell down that hill.  The golden eggs Humpty, Puss and newcomer Kitty Softpaws (Hayek) are seeking, can only be found at the top of a beanstalk grown by magic beans.

The story has lots of things kids will appreciate, but a few of the gags (hopefully) will go over kids' heads. For example, in one scene, a man starts telling of the legend of the magic beans, and he has parts of the story tattooed all over his body. On his back, there's a drawing of the castle, there's a tat of the goose on his body as well. At one point, the man starts to loosen his pants as he offers to show Puss the "golden eggs."  Puss stops him going, "No, no ... I've seen enough."  That, I'm sure went over the kids' heads.

Overall, pretty entertaining show. Here's the trailer, if you're interested. Puss in Boots opens today.

-Hyattsville Mom