Paramount Studios hits the jackpot with Puss in Boots, a great tongue in check escapade from Dreamworks now showing off at Empire Oakridge Cinemas, Colossus and Cineplex Odeon Theatres throughout B.C. Done properly, animated mov­ies can be a hoot. Dreamworks pioneered the use of smart adult content mixed with juvenile antics in the Shrek series. Now Puss in Boots, an offshoot of this wacky fairy tale journey, comes full cir­cle with the introduction of that fabled character into a film all it’s own. Smart Paramount Studios is the big winner here, along with kids of all ages, as this foxy feline makes an impressive debut. Voiced by Latin lover Antonio Banderas (Assassins) this cat with ten lives runs into all sorts of difficulties from the get go. Ap­parently Puss has run afoul of the town he lives in and is now branded an outlaw. As an orphan he befriended accomplice in the making Humpty Dumpty, an egg shaped wonder with a tongue and wit full of mischief and double en­tendres. Comedian Zach Gali­fianakis (Due Date) rises to the occasion as the one-liners come fast and furious as the two try to elude the lawmakers of the land. Oh, and there is a female cat on the prowl out to mess with Puss’s heart.

Girls and women will be in awe of the female prowess of one Kit­ty Softpaws. Latin lovely Salma Hayek (Frida) is the perfect spar­ring partner for that wicked Puss in Boots as the two tangle (and tango) together. While this trio do their best to stay alive and free the at large “gangsters” also must deal with two other crime infested vermin, the wicked Jack and Jill. Like the other “humans” in this hilarious 90 minute jaunt bad boy Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa) and Amy Sedaris (Elf) breathe fire into the roles of this Bonnie and Clyde duo out to rule the day.

Director Chris Miller (Shrek The Third) delivers laughs galore in this wonderful treat that kids will adore and adults will be amazed at the creative visions brought to life here. Snappy dialogue, a cat with huge attitude and sly adult themes intermingled with the ju­venile humour help make Puss in Boots a must see event movie.

Even the 3-D effects work here making the movie all the more charming. And stay for the end credits which further ramp up the enjoyment factor in this extremely witty little gem of a movie with a huge heart. Morals also come into play here as the lessons the characters learn are true to form. Meaningful, heartfelt and funny throughout, Puss in Boots marks the beginning of a new film franchise as long as the story-line and ideas remain fresh. Fresh out of the box, the writers here have crafted a winner that people of all ages will smile with in delight.

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