Story
Puss in Boots is a prequel to the Shrek movies. Years before meeting Shrek and Donkey, Puss (voice of Antonio Banderas) is a wanted cat and needs to clear his name. He’s also trying to find magic beans that will help him get to a giant’s castle and take the goose that lays golden eggs.
While trying to steal magic beans from the infamous criminals Jack and Jill (voices of Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris), Puss meets another ‘cat burglar’. This is Kitty Softpaws (voice of Salma Hayek), who leads Puss to his former friend Humpty Dumpty (voice of Zach Galifianakis). Humpty caused Puss to be branded as a criminal, and memories of this betrayal make Puss reluctant to trust Humpty, but he eventually agrees to team up. Puss, Kitty and Humpty set off to steal the magic beans, get to the giant’s castle, seize the golden goose and clear Puss’s name.
Themes
Revenge; betrayal; orphans and orphanages
Violence
Puss in Boots contains cartoon-style action violence and scenes showing intense danger throughout. The movie doesn’t have any blood and gore, but it does show the death of a main character. For example:
Sexual references
Puss in Boots contains some sexual references and innuendo. For example:
- When Puss leaves a female cat he has spent a night with, he says that he’ll never forget her. Then he calls her by the wrong name.
- Twice Jack tells Jill that he wants to have a baby with her and talks about her biological clock. Jill says no, telling him to practise on their wild piglets.
- Puss talks about himself as ‘a lover not a fighter’. Puss also is referred to as ‘Mr Frisky’, ‘Two Times’ and ‘Furry Lover’.
- In one scene Humpty takes off his clothes (off screen) and changes into a golden egg suit. Softpaws looks at Humpty and then says, ‘Humpty you’re not wearing underwear’. Humpty replies, ‘I’m not embarrassed’.
- Just before Humpty is hit in the groin with a giant golden egg, he shouts, ‘Gonads!’
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
This movie shows some use of substances. For example:
- In a bar-room scene, men sit at tables with glasses and a bottle of alcohol in front of them. A man drinks from a bottle several times.
- A couple of times, we’re told that Puss drinks only pure milk. He’s shown lapping milk from a shot glass.
- When prison guards search Puss, they find a bottle of catnip in his boot. The scene suggests that the bottle might contain marijuana.
Nudity and sexual activity
This movie has some nudity and sexual activity. For example:
- In the opening scene, two discarded wine glasses (with some milk left in the bottom of them) and fish bones lie on the floor. A fluffy female cat lies on a pillow. Puss puts on his sword belt and leaves through the window as the female cat gives a deep sigh.
- A man takes off his shirt to show Puss the tattoos on his chest. The man starts unbuttoning his pants to show Puss his golden eggs tattoo, but he’s stopped before he pulls down his pants.
- When Puss goes into a nightclub, he winks and blow kisses at female cats. Some of the cats faint.
- Puss and Softpaws dance with each other in a sensual way, flirting as they dance. They purr and lean together while Softpaws wraps her tail around Puss’s neck. They kiss behind the cover of a large hat.
Product placement
There is no product placement in the movie. As with the Shrek movies, however, there’s a lot of associated merchandise available.
Coarse language
Puss in Boots contains some low-level coarse language and put-downs.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Puss in Boots is an entertaining animated action adventure that targets a wide-ranging audience from seven years and up. Younger children might be scared by the violence and scenes of the heroes in danger.
The main message from this movie is that friendship and love can turn even the worst of bad intentions around.
Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include being selfless, brave and willing to make up for the things you’ve done wrong.
You could also talk about the way that Humpty treats his friend Puss and the far-reaching real-life consequences that result from lying and manipulating others to get things for yourself.