What a dramatic and sharp improvement from the first. And the first wasn't even bad! But this is like it cut off the shackles the first was under to fit in the formula of the franchise, the studio, and anknated movies of the time in general. Now in Spiderverse's wake they realized they can be daring and be a genuinely great swashbuckling fairy tale instead of an average parodic sendup of one.

In the first sequence alone the film sells you more on Puss' appeal and that he's truly a legend more than the entire first film did. And then in its second action scene to immediately tear that apart and deconstruct it, that that reckless fearlessness was its own firm of cowardice, and that without it Puss is pathetic? To deconstruct the very achetype Puss was made to parody and in doing so propel him to being an actually great example of it instead of just coasting on Banderas' charisma? It's fantastic, and all the characters are equally sharp.

Banderas owns this material, but Hayek who I thought was only serviceable in the first film really picks up her game to match him in this one. She feels more lived in, hitting the sensitive and vulnerable notes as well as the strong and suave ones to perfection. Guillen has been one of my breakout stars over the last few years and shows why as comic relief that is never obnoxious and the heart of the film that's never cloying or unearned. And throw in the antagonists- three groups the film balances perfectly- that run the gamut from Moura's terrifying force of nature to the charming and sympathetic Goldilocks and her Bear family to Mulaney's unrepentantly evil and loving it Jack, and you have a perfect cast of characters.

The world itself pulls in you as well, for the first time not being an anything goes vehicle of parody like Shrek or a slightly lifeless and generic sendup of Zorro-style Mexico, but instead a world with a breathtaking identity of its own. While taking cues from Spider Verse's visuals, it tweaks them to perfectly capture the larger than life and fantastically vibrant awe of a fairy tale. It doesn't look like any other animated movie like Shrek did in its later years, or like Puss in Boots did to muted response. This is the film that justifies more stories in this world, because it finally feels lived in and invested in, not as meta jokes or deconstructions of genre but as s setting in of itself. Even side characters like the Serpent Sisters have such charming designs, performances, and lively animation that I want to see more of it. It's fascinating to think what a Shrek film could possibly look like under this new vision, and for the first time, I'm interested in seeing why.

Balancing winning humor, well crafted themes, and excellent drama and characterization, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish exceeded my expectations. From the trailers, I noted the Spider-Verse influence and thought it would be a similar visual feast, but would probably miss that film's passion in other areas. What I got instead was that passion to spare, and one of my favorite films of the year.