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Canberra Today 13°/17° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Review: Puss in Boots (G) ? ? ?

WILL Davies’ story for this kind-of prequel to the “Shrek” films ignores no possible source of inspiration, be it Mother Goose and her book of nursery rhymes, classic fairy tales, the best traditions of Western movies, Zorro, James Bond (and not just the Pussy Galore references).

Among the few feline and children’s literature sources that the film doesn’t mine are Dick Whittington and, perhaps for copyright reasons, “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats”.

The law is pursuing the picaresque Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) for various misdemeanours. In a run-down Mexican village, he establishes a fragile relationship with voluptuous Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek), restores his friendship with Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianikis), saves the village from Goosey Goosey Gander’s determined search for her stolen baby, and more.

Villainous, ugly, meritricous Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris) have done more than just go up the hill.  They have a map that will lead them to the special place in the desert from which three magic beans, when planted, will grow beyond the clouds to the magic land where Mother Goose has laid a trove of golden eggs. For Puss, Humpty and Kitty, the first task is to steal the map.

The convoluted plot needs no further summarising. Kids will enjoy its fantasy and action values and grown-ups won’t find much to cavil about.  The animation is great. The 3D version, which I was happy not to see, is showing at selected cinemas.

At all cinemas

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Dougal Macdonald

Dougal Macdonald

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