The Shrek movies were huge successes so a spinoff was inevitable. Unfortunately, Puss is too much of a one-dimensional character to sustain a whole movie. Now, I like Antonio Bandaras and I like Antonio Bandaras as Puss, a Latin-lover so romantic and vain that he’s totally unaware that he’s a kitty cat. And while this bit plays well in Shrek, it wears thin after the first 15 minutes. The script, written by Tom Wheeler, Brian Lynch and Will Davies, gives Puss a convoluted back-story that involves growing up in an orphanage and becoming close friends with Humpty Dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) who later betrays him.
When the back-story threatens to take over, the narrative shifts to the present, throwing in Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris) as corpulent grown-up grouches, magic beans and a beanstalk, a girl kitty (Salma Hayek) dressed as Catwoman (??) and a whole lot more. Directed by Chris Miller, “Puss in Boots” is beautifully animated, but the jokes aren’t very funny. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be an action flick, a children’s cartoon movie or and origin tale. If it’s the latter, Miller doesn’t even bother to explain how Puss got his boots. Oh, well. I say wait for cable. 10/21/11
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