Film File - Puss In Boots

Every now and then, the supporting character rises above even the hero to chart his own path to fame and glory. In the 'Shrek' movies, it could well have been 'Donkey' that managed this rare feat, but most of the betting would likely have seen 'Puss' get the nod for grasping the nettle and going out on his own. Set long before he met Shrek - what Hollywood calls 'the backstory' - the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) finds his way to becoming a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) to save his town. Complicating matters along the way are the notorious outlaws Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris), a pair willing to do anything fair or foul - but mostly foul - to ensure the Cat in the Hat and his buddies don't succeed. When the story begins, Puss is an orphan growing up in the small village of San Ricardo where he befriends a somewhat oddly shaped individual called Humpty Alexander Dumpty. Puss listens to Humpty's dreams - and being an egg and unable, obviously, to do much else - he has little to do but dream. Inevitably picked on due to his appearance, Humpty is protected by Puss as they both dream of leaving the orphanage for a better life. All they need is a few magic beans to grow into a beanstalk so they can steal a fabled goose that lays golden eggs from a giant's castle in the clouds. It's your basic fairytale task, but in this instance, one that doesn't quite work out as the Grimm Brothers would have hoped. With the search for the fabled beans turning up nothing, the dream begins to recede for Puss, and it isn't long before this Action Cat finds his true calling when he heroically rescues a damsel from the path of a charging bull. As a reward, the town bestows the title of hero on Puss, plus his debonair hat and legendary boots. However, as often happens with many friends when one achieves fame and fortune, jealousy is quick to follow. And especially when a plan to enrich themselves goes horribly wrong and Puss is taken for a traitor and Humpty for a thoroughly bad egg. Pushed along on the basic premise that made him so appealing in all the 'Shrek' movies - the voice, the swordsmanship, the essential Spanish style of it all - Puss was always going to be an easy hero to like. Banderas, now given more screen time with the jolly green giant and his princess departed, revels in the whiskery feline fun of it all. As baddies, Billy Bob and Amy are a decent enough Bonnie & Clyde-type duo, and a perfect foil for the sharper and cooler cat. The only jarring note is the repetitive whine of Humpty, a talent Galifianakis has ably honed in both 'Hangover' movies. That quibble aside, this is a good fun movie that will appeal to all 'Shrek' fans - and even newcomers who haven't seen this kind of Puss before.