Puss in Boots (3D)

Rating:

“Puss in Boots” is both a spin-off and a prequel that expands the Antonio Banderas character from the “Shrek” films. As a sidekick to Shrek, Puss only stood in the background as a portrait of cuteness. Now, he has taken command of the lead role, seizing its privilege by familiarizing us with his diverse life as a skilled fighter, dedicated lover, and excellent dancer. This is an eager and cheerful animated film that humors its way through its vibrant animation.

“Puss in Boots” remains in the same world that’s occupied by Shrek, where fairy tale characters share the same space and time, where The Gingerbread Man could bump into the Big Bad Wolf, where Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella could talk about the Prince Charming in their lives. It’s a delightful and nostalgic concept, one that’s been forgotten by the last two “Shrek” installments. But Dreamworks has recaptured its essence in “Puss in Boots”, reimagining and merging some fairy tales that have occupied the bedtime stories of our childhood.

Jack and Jill

Consider, for example, the involvement of the brittle, delicate Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis). His undamaged shell suggests that he has yet to suffer his great fall. His association with Puss goes back to their early years. (Puss was just a cute little kitty while Humpty was just a cute little egg. You would think that Humpty would have hatched and developed into a chicken by adulthood, but no. He just grew into a bigger egg.) As kids, the two dreamed of acquiring the legendary magic beans, but conflicting personal convictions left them separated. Years pass, and the present circumstances have reunited them with the opportunity to rescue their friendship and conquer their hanging dream.

Rumors reveal that the beans are in the possession of two cruel, homicidal criminals named Jack and Jill. Their appearance in this film doesn’t match the innocent, clumsy pair of chumps we see in coloring books. No. Jack and Jill are constantly angry and discouragingly ugly, which is probably a result of the painful, frustrating tumbles of their early quests for pales of water. It is the goal of Puss and Humpty to take the beans from them. And to do this, they include the sleight of hand expertise of a black female cat named Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek). A romance between Puss and Softpaws is built up along the way, of course, which is like seeing a furry Zorro and Catwoman in a romantic comedy.

Humpty, Kitty Softballs, Puss

This is very fun. The plot, which is rightfully shallow, is simply a set-up for jokes and references to other fairy tales. But “Puss in Boots” is most fun when it suspends the plot for moments of senseless joy. There is a pleasant scene where our heroes are mesmerized by the fact that they are standing on creamy clouds; they take a break from their adventure to appreciate the awesomeness. Prior to that scene, there is a stand-off between Puss and Softpaws. Instead of engaging in the expected swordfight, the pair duel it out in a dazzling dance competition. This is, so far, the most buoyant animated feature of 2011.

I experienced the misfortune of seeing “Puss in Boots” in 3-D. All nearby malls made it a point that they will only screen the more expensive version. I wish I had seen it in brighter 2-D. 3-D is a complicated technique only reserved for the most intelligent of artists. All I got from the added dimension of “Puss in Boots” was a splitting headache, which is the same kind of pain you would get after tumbling down a hill.