Movie Review: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2023) was written by Tom Wheeler. The screenplay was written by Paul Fisher and Tommy Swerdlow. The Last Wish was directed by Joel Crawford and co-directed by Juanuel Mercado. Paul Fisher and Juanuel Mercado are known for The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017) while Paul Fisher and Joel Crawford are both known for The Croods: A New Age (2020). Joel Crawford and Juanuel Mercado are also known for The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). Tommy Swerdlow is known for Howard the Duck (1986), Child’s Play (1988), and Real Genius (1985). 

Antonio Banderas starred in The Last Wish as the voice actor for Puss in Boots. Banderas also played in other movies such as Dolittle (2020), The Mask of Zorro (1998), and Spy Kids (2001). Salma Hayek Pinault starred as the voice actor for Puss’ ex-fiancee Kitty Softpaws. Harvey Guillen starred as the voice actor for the chihuahua Perrito. Pinault and Guillen both played in the movie Truth or Dare (2018) as well as other movies.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is an amazing journey of learning to be content with the blessings you have and how to value a life that does not have every material value, but a life surrounded by real friends. Puss in Boots loses eight of his nine lives and he reluctantly settles down to live his last life as a house cat. Due to unexpected circumstances, Puss decides to find the fallen star that will grant him one wish.  Puss plans to use the one wish to regain his nine lives. On the run with his ex-fiancee Kitty Softpaws and a hyperactive, mostly innocent chihuahua named Perrito, Puss sets off to find the fallen star. Always looking over his shoulder, Puss races to find the star before the ones chasing him do. He ultimately learns the value of life along the journey, and learns how to value friendships with the newfound friends he surrounds himself with.

The Last Wish is a well written movie that plays on Puss in Boots’ proud and slightly arrogant nature without making him unlikable. The animation is absolutely divine and the movie is a beautiful portrayal of Puss, an amazing character that started off as a side character in Shrek 2 (2004). Perrito’s hilariously unmoved innocence and his unfailing ability to not acknowledge anything even remotely unkind or disagreeable said towards him leaves the audience laughing their heads off. The directors mercilessly go after the themes like the fear of death and the way people take most things for granted. The directors throw the themes into the open and portray them in a light that gives viewers hope that they can learn to live and not just survive. Kudos to the director and writers for this absolutely outstanding movie.