The badass Puss (Antonio Banderas) of Shrek 2 is back as a leading feline: an outlaw seeking to clear his name. We’re privy to Puss’ backstory when Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) reappears—they were “brothers” in a Spanish orphanage. They pursue the magic beans (a dream they’ve shared since childhood), which they must steal from a murderous Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris), with the help of sultry Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek)—a story that pales in comparison to those of the Shrek trilogy. However, director Chris Miller (Shrek the Third) and DreamWorks animators optimize the use of 3D—with intricate action scenes and perspectives—and cat humour (aimless chasing of lasers and lapping of milk) abounds amidst a lively and witty script given a kick by great voice actors. For a money-grabbing spin-off, it’s not half bad.
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 2, 2011.