Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a perfect balance of comedy, cuteness, and an exciting plot, combined with a message that everyone can learn from. Overall I recommend this movie to anyone and everyone. I truly think that it brings to the table something for every viewer. It is the third stand-alone Puss in Boots movie and the sixth movie in the Shrek universe. The movie was directed by Joel Crawford and released in theaters on December 21, 2022. It was an immediate success; in the first two weeks, box office sales reached more than 200 million dollars. And after watching the movie, it’s easy to see why. 

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish follows a fearful Puss in Boots as he realizes that he has used eight of his nine lives, leaving him with only one left. The “Big Bad Wolf” chasing after and trying to kill him isn’t helping his situation. This sends him into an identity crisis as his persona relies on him fearing nothing. When he learns about the wishing star, a magic star that grants any wish to one individual, he determines it is the only thing that can save him. The only issue is he is not the only one who wants the star. So he must race to the prize and along the way determine what is really important to him. 

This film has a good message; it’s essential to live in the moment and make the most out of the life you have now. Also, Puss in Boots coming to terms with his own mortality is something I think all age groups can learn from. Along with a good message, the film explores many other themes well such as childhood trauma, trust issues, and how we define family. This movie made me laugh and cry and was overall a delightful film. 

Another thing to add is the movie’s animation style is very unique compared to the other movies in the series. The more 3D fairy tale look of the movie made it exciting to watch and easy to see the amount of work put in by animators to make the movie come to life.