Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Is Actually Good, Promises Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek promises that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is “really good” during a fun exchange from a recent television appearance ahead of the animated film’s wide theatrical US release. Hayek reprises her role of skilled thief Kitty Softpaws from 2011’s Puss in Boots alongside Antonio Banderas, who voices the titular character. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish continues the story of Banderas’ Shrek character over a decade since his last theatrical appearance, as he embarks on a quest to restore eight of his spent nine lives.

During a recent guest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Hayek and the host discussed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish ahead of the animated Shrek spin-off movie‘s December 21 release. When Fallon praised the film, Hayek also joined in endorsing the animated feature in a humorous exchange, describing the film as “really good“. Check out the full exchange below:

Jimmy Fallon: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, by the way it’s phenomenal.

Salma Hayek: It’s really good, guys.

Fallon: I loved the other ones, this one’s my favorite.

Hayek: Sometimes, I lie to you. I say “Oh, it’s really good. Go see it.” No, this one’s for real.

Fallon: This one’s fantastic.

Related: Puss In Boots 2’s Trailer Is A Great Sign For Shrek 5

Could Puss In Boots 2 Fully Revive The Shrek Franchise?

Despite it being over a decade since the original film and having endured a lengthy development period since its announcement in 2014, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish seems set to impress audiences after a promising reception from critics. The Puss in Boots sequel will pull inspiration from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse‘s storybook-inspired animation style like fellow DreamWorks 2022 production The Bad Guys. As such, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish promises to be visually distinct from most previous DreamWorks releases, giving the feature a storybook look that works well with the Shrek universe’s reimagined fairy tale world while also working within a style that audiences have grown incredibly fond of.

Furthermore, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish also represents the Shrek franchise’s long-awaited return to the big screen. Despite the franchise’s large role in helping establish DreamWorks Animation’s place in the animation landscape, the main franchise concluded with 2010’s Shrek Forever After, while Puss’s adventures had been limited to Netflix’s The Adventures of Puss in Boots television series. As such, Shrek‘s return in DreamWorks’ new title sequence quickly caught audiences’ attention following its reveal in November, as the company acknowledged the character amongst other more contemporary DreamWorks characters, as well as his place in its legacy. While the franchise was undoubtedly successful during its height in pop culture, Shrek has since developed a further layer of popularity through online memes that both reference Mike Myers’ ogre and reimagine him and his friends in fun, but often surreal, ways. With both an audience that grew up alongside its releases and a new generation that grew familiar with the franchise through its online presence, potential support for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish could open a pathway for production to begin on a potential Shrek 5, especially considering it was supposed to occur alongside the Banderas-led sequel.

Between Hayek’s praise, Banderas teasing the film’s emotional story, and an early positive critical response, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish could prove to be the perfect animated film to bring 2022 to a close. Despite a lengthy and troubled production that saw a number of directors become attached to the feature, the extended length of production has allowed the film to evolve with industry trends and reimagine the world of Shrek in a new style. As such, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish could potentially enjoy a strong box-office performance across the holiday season while also breathing new life into the long-dormant franchise.

Next: Puss In Boots 2 Dramatically Retcons A Major Shrek RuleSource: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon