Is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish safe for kids? Is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish OK for children? Read the Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new DreamWorks animated Puss in Boots sequel film within the Shrek spin-off universe, starring Antonio Banderas and Selma Hayek Pinault. No spoilers! #PussinBoots #TheLastWish May contain commissioned links.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Movie Review | Safe for Kids?
What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue this holiday season?
It’s been over 10 years since the 2011 release of the original Puss in Boots film. And this popular character spin-off from the Shrek movie franchise is hoping to live his best, last life. But let’s face it; this cat hasn’t always scratched at our heartstrings when it comes to successful DreamWorks franchise sequels. Is this long awaited Puss in Boots sequel worth the wait? Or should this hero cat have hung up his boots years ago (like Shrek 3)?
In This Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full PG age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in the new 2022 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish parents guide to the new Puss in Boots 2/Shrek spin-off film. A no-spoiler parent review of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, has DreamWorks overstayed their welcome this holiday season?
The Visuals
Even a ginger cat can change his stripes. DreamWorks soars once again with high quality CGI animation that rivals that of Disney. Sharp details as small as individual strands of fur, bright colors and creative landscapes make the Puss in Boots 2 sequel visuals a cat above the rest.
Quick shift into choppy anime-style 2D animation for some of the action sequences may be a welcome switch – or really annoying. I honestly didn’t mind the play on popular modern day genre animation, very similar to Into the Spider-verse.
Photosensitivity warning. Be prepared for scenes with bright flashing lights, similar to other films within the Shrek collection. No strobing sequences though.
The Story
Directed by Joel Crawford and produced by Mark Swift, Antonino Banderas (“The Mask of Zorro“) returns as as the iconic DreamWorks character in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The voice cast also features Salma Hayek Pinault (“Frida“) as Kitty Softpaws, Harvey Guillén (“Reacher“) as Perro, Florence Pugh (“Black Widow“) as Goldilocks, Olivia Colman (“The Crown“), Ray Winstone (“Point Break“), and John Mulaney (“Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse“) as Jack Horner.
Fully preparing myself for another 2009 Puss in Boots (or let’s face it, anything after Shrek 2) letdown, I found that going into the film with such low expectations was surprisingly helpful. 11-years did the kitty good, as Puss in Boots aged as a fine wine instead of a rotted fish. DreamWorks got back to their roots and the successful animated movie formula – with tons of clichés, visual gags, cameos, embedded adult humor, new characters, and another clever, yet dark fairy tale story.
I was surprised to see less of modern day pop culture references that DreamWorks/Shrek movies are known for. However, this Puss in Boots 2 sequel felt more like a close cousin of Shrek 2 with lots of life lessons for kids (family, love, overcoming fear, carpe diem), along with action, adventure and entertainment for the whole family.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish PG Rating Explained
Is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish safe for kids? Has DreamWorks gone too far with the Puss in Boots adult humor? Should parents be concerned that the 2022 Shrek spin-off is too much after a 10-year movie hiatus? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option. PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, there’s a wide range between the age of 0-12 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie is really kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.
Why is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish rated PG? In this Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, this DreamWorks Puss in Boots sequel film is rated PG for “action/violence, rude humor, language and some scary moments.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is kid friendly. Is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish too scary for kids? Let’s breakdown that PG age rating in this Puss in Boots: The Last Wish parents guide.
Violence/Suspense. The action/violence is about what I would expect for a Shrek-like movie. There’s some swash-buckling sword fighting, use of medieval weapons such as crossbows, hatchets and other handheld weapons, and mild hand-to-hand fighting and kicking. Small amounts of animated blood, cuts, and scars seen as well, along with quick shots of “sickly” looking animals that may scare small children.
Multiple verbal references to “murder” and “murdering.” Multiple scenes of one scary/violent character with red eyes that might be nightmare territory for small kids. I would compare this character as “next level” bad guy scary when compared to Lord Farquaad or Fairy Godmother, and closer to a Bruno of Encanto in the early scenes. There are dark fantasy/fairy-tale themes and other potentially scary looking characters to consider as well.
However, discussion of multiple cruel animal abuse scenarios for a punchline was the most concerning scene for me. The description and heavy discussion of multiple attempts to end the life of a pet for a cheap laugh felt extremely dark and cruel, even for DreamWorks.
Adult Themes. Rude humor certainly falls under this category. As Puss in Boots: The Last Wish definitely continues the Shrek-like humor legacy. While very appealing to both kids and adults, some of the verbal jokes and visual gags have a tendency of going a paw too far for some sensitive kids and parents.
Mild toilet humor present including cat cliché of using a litter box, peeing into a toilet (nothing “seen,” but visual in place), visual toilet references. Discussion of death, fear of death, visuals of ways to die, and being “dead inside.” Mild discussion of “therapy” in regards to mental health.
Visual and verbal reference to “witch hunting.” Mild scenes of acting “drunk,” holding a beer stein, and stumbling around. Two quick scenes of a man in his underwear. And one quick disturbing scene of person (inferred nakedness, but nothing seen) in bathtub with a cat.
Language. Overall, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is very mild for foul language. One “H-E-double-hockey-sticks” reference, and 2 mentions of the word “crap” is about as bad as the language references get, which is a great relief to this Shrek-loving mom. A cut-off “bullsh-” is also said, along with a few audio bleeps to infer the use of foul language.
However, the milder insults include bad words and phrases are more numerous for possible sensitive parents and children: “shut up,” “heck,” “hate,” “butt nugget,” “pooping,” “idiot,” “stupid,” “fat,” “dumb,” “jerks,” and “creep.”
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Movie Age Rating for Kids
At a runtime of 1 hour 42 minutes, DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish sequel film is right in the sweet spot for kids and families. With visually stunning animation, lots of action/adventure, signature Shrek-like humor to appeal to kids and adults, and a clever storyline, DreamWorks does it once again – another kid movie success.
There are some slower dialogue scenes, use Spanish language dialect and phrases that may be confusing for little ones, and scary scenes to consider for parents.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is very comparable to the first 2 Shrek films. A good-paced story, packed action/adventure, adult and kid humor, visual interest, and dark fairy-tale themes – sticks to the DreamWorks animated film formula.
DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish film sequel is rated PG for “action/violence, rude humor, language and some scary moments.“
Yes, there is one end credit scene. May not be worth sticking around for though.
Based on my Puss in Boots: The Last Wish parents guide, PG rating breakdown and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Puss in Boots: The Last Wish to kids younger than the age of 5-6 years old.
My 9-year old daughter was easily frightened by the one particular scary character during the first couple of scene appearances. Overall, she was able to calm down and overcome her fear by the end of the movie, but the character did leave an impression on her sensitive spirit.
Considering the full PG rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Puss in Boots: The Last Wish to kids younger than the age of 5-6 years old.
This Puss in Boots: The Last Wish rating is easily comparable to the Shrek and Puss in Boots movie series ratings. But note that the one particular scary character is “next level” when compared to Lord Farquaad or Fairy Godmother – more comparable to Bruno in Encanto in the early scenes. If your kids loves Shrek, they will love this 2022 Puss in Boots movie. I still recommend parents to prescreen Puss in Boots: The Last Wish for rude humor, scary sequences and language.
The Overall
Suavemente. This cat’s got my tongue. He may have 9 lives, but Puss is Boots: The Last Wish was worth the 11-year wait. After 10+ years, this cat hasn’t lost his ability to charm families – purr-fectly.
Living his “last life” to the fullest, Puss in Boots is filled with action, adventure, humor, and a solid storyline on the same level as Shrek and Shrek 2. Holding his head high and wowing audiences with enrapturing visuals, modern day humor, and dark fairy tale clichés, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a rare sequel that is surprisingly better than the original.
- Website: https://www.dreamworks.com/movies/puss-in-boots-the-last-wish
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pussinboots/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dreamworks
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pussinboots/
- #PussinBoots #TheLastWish
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Christmas came early! DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, the Shrek-inspired film sequel leaps into theaters starting Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Will your family be watching?
I was invited to screen DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in exchange for this Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Universal Pictures. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
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