Puss In Boots (2011) is a classic tale concerning the tension between the importance of community life and the self-centered actions of those who envision their happiness in the accumulation of wealth and the exultation of vengeance. All of this is clothed in the modern conception of an origin story, and, more importantly, the recent incorporation of non-human creatures into the community of sentient creatures.
Puss is an orphan kitten who was raised by a kindly foster mother, but his fellow orphan, Humpty Dumpty the Egg, has scant respect for the law. As they grow older, Humpty develops a taste for gold, and eventually tricks Puss into helping him rob the bank of their little village – and thus the villagers who’ve used it. Pursued by the local militia, Humpty loses his footing and is taken by the militia even as he begs for help from the angry Puss, who leaps from the bridge into the chasm to escape.
A few years later, Humpty reappears in the company of Kitty Softpaws. Humpty vows to restore the gold to the bank and begs Puss for help, who reluctantly allows his attraction to Softpaws to persuade him to assist in restoring the gold.
The source? There are magic beans involved.
Once the source of gold is secured, though, Puss discovers he is ensnared in a scheme of vengeance, a group effort including not only Humpy and Softpaws, but even Jack and Jill and some villagers. Turned over to the military, he’s imprisoned.
Momentarily. Shamed, but made aware of an imminent disaster, Puss employs his charms to escape and make the situation right, with panache, but for one unfortunate loss.
This is the sort of story that illustrates the sad, lonely ending for those who fail to cultivate societal ties in favor of satisfying the base desires of greed and failure to consider the welfare of others. It’s a basic teaching story, which includes the unusual element of other creatures than humans being full-fledged members of society.
Also of interest are the arsenal of skills in Puss’ possession, while Humpty, for all his intense desire for wealth and vengeance, can only be credited with cleverness – little else. He fumbles from one situation to another, and in this there must be a parable about thinking that one’s desires will fulfill one’s life, whereas it’s more in what one can learn to do.
This is a fun animated movie with panache and some mildly wicked laughs. It’s a good way to spend a snowy evening after shoveling another annoying load of snow. If you have kid, recommended.
