The Last Wish Opens December 7 – Manila Bulletin

This holiday season, the beloved stain-loving, surprise, fear-defying feline is back. For the first time in more than a decade, DreamWorks Animation presents a new adventure in the Shrek universe as daring outlaw Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for danger and disregard for safety have taken their toll. A hero to some, an outlaw to others… everyone agrees this snarky cat has style. Known for his iconic (and beautifully cobbled) boots, Puss is a skilled swordsman, charming, fearless, determined and a crazy-good dancer.

Puss is a legend who has lived all these lives. He goes from city to city and party to party. It is life and soul wherever it goes. But just like the rock star who plays the concert every night and is in top form, he goes back to his hotel alone every night — he lies in bed and has no one around. This is the story of Puss. He never let anyone in. During the journey, he begins to question this choice.

The long-awaited sequel to the 2011 Academy Award® hit, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish stars Academy Award nominee Antonio Banderas, who returns as the voice of the infamous PiB as he embarks on an epic journey into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star and restore his lost lives. When we last saw Puss in Boots, in his 2011 solo outing as a movie star, he was cooing about his wicked ability to save the world and be adored. Now with only one life left, the feline devil wonders if he’s lost his mojo forever…and with it, the very essence of what makes him Puss in Boots.

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” features an all-star voice cast including Oscar® nominee Salma Hayek Pinault as Kitty Softpaws, Harvey Guillen as Perrito the mutt, Oscar® nominee Florence Pugh as Goldi, Oscar® winner Olivia Colman as Momma Bear, Ray Winstone as Papa Bear, Samson Kayo as Baby Bear, Emmy winner John Mulaney as Jack Horner and Wagner Moura as Wolf.

The character of Puss in Boots first appeared in 2004’s Academy Award®-nominated Shrek 2 and instantly became a global scene-stealing sensation. Puss subsequently co-starred in two more Shrek sequels and his solo film, as well as several DreamWorks Animation videos and a television series. The Shrek and Puss in Boots movies have collectively earned more than $3.5 billion worldwide.

Antonio Banderas has lived (and brought life to) Puss in Boots for nearly two decades and has seen the character’s impact firsthand in every region of the globe. “I had interviews from all over the world and I thought, ‘Wow. When that person saw Shrek 2, they were seven, eight years old,” says Banderas. “Now, they’re interviewing me for this character they saw years ago, and now he’s 28 or 29 years old. It’s beautiful that younger people have grown up with this character that created such a powerful impact on their lives. Looks like it’s time to pick Puss up and throw him back on the big screen, where he belongs.”

“Coming back to voice this unforgettable hero was a remarkable experience,” says Banderas. “I felt like I was visiting a very dear, intelligent friend I hadn’t heard from in a few years. We both have grayer mustaches and are no longer the brash, young players we used to be. What I love most about playing Puss is that deep down, he has a strong sense of honor and loyalty – as well as a mischievous and funny side, which endears him to audiences of all ages,” concludes Banderas.

A DreamWorks and Universal Pictures animated film, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is in local theaters starting Dec. 7.