Critics’ reviews

Puss in Boots (2011)

17 reviews from 17 publications. Critics’ score 67: 9 positive, 8 mixed, 0 negative.

Back to our review of Puss in Boots

67
Positive
9
Mixed
8
Negative
0

Most critics find the spin-off entertaining and able to stand without Shrek, and nobody dislikes it outright: nine of the seventeen reviews are positive, eight are mixed, none are negative. The praise clusters on Antonio Banderas, whose voice work several reviews call the main reason to watch, and on the 3D, which the Hollywood Reporter and Total Film both single out for its well-judged use of depth. The chemistry between Puss and Kitty, and the handling of Humpty Dumpty, also come up more than once.

The reservations are about story. Variety thinks the finale overdone and the film long; Empire and Eye for Film find the plot crowded; the Evening Standard says the final quarter is the weakest. The Skinny is the lone dissenter on the 3D, calling it ineffective, and faults a lazy script. The spread is narrow, running from Slant’s forgettable to the Los Angeles Times’ consistently entertaining: nobody is cross, and nobody is quite excited either.

Los Angeles Times
28 October 2011 · Kenneth Turan
80*

Turan finds the film a visually lively, consistently entertaining family adventure that balances action and tongue-in-cheek humor. He singles out its film-noir-inspired storytelling and stylish visual flair for praise.

Read the full review →
Empire
1 December 2011 · Olly Richards
70*

Richards finds the spin-off entertaining and thinks Puss can carry an adventure of his own, despite a crowded plot and limited storytelling invention. He especially praises the heartfelt handling of Humpty Dumpty and the lively dance-off between Puss and Kitty.

Read the full review →
The Hollywood Reporter
23 October 2011 · Todd McCarthy
70*

McCarthy calls the film a diverting, entertaining romp and praises its inventive, well-integrated 3D cinematography. He also singles out the lively character work and vocal performances, especially the chemistry between Puss and Kitty.

Read the full review →
Variety
24 October 2011 · Peter Debruge
70*

Debruge finds the spin-off consistently amusing and able to stand on its own, despite its franchise-minded origins. He praises Antonio Banderas’s irresistible central performance, while faulting the over-the-top finale and sense of length.

Read the full review →
The Guardian
8 December 2011 · Peter Bradshaw
65*

Bradshaw finds the spin-off amiable and entertaining, though not especially exhilarating. He singles out Humpty Dumpty’s joke about eggs in jail as the film’s best line.

Read the full review →
Screen Daily
24 October 2011 · Brent Simon
64*

The review's verdict is unavailable in the accessible page. No specific praise or criticism is visible.

Read the full review →
The New York Times
28 October 2011
64*

The article could not be accessed, so its verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be reliably attributed to the critic.

Read the full review →
Evening Standard
10 April 2012 · The Standard
60*

The critic finds the animation entertaining but not outstanding, with a weaker final quarter. They praise the lively performances and visual details, while noting that the animation falls short of the best Shrek films.

Read the full review →
Time Out
6 December 2011 · ★★★ · Anna Smith
60

The three-star rating suggests a mixed verdict. The description praises Antonio Banderas’s voice work and Puss’s charismatic, scene-stealing presence.

Read the full review →
Total Film
15 November 2011 · ★★★ · Matt Chapman
60

Chapman finds the film entertaining in fits and starts, but says its story feels overextended and its humor is only moderately funny. He singles out the skilful use of 3D depth and the expansive environments as the film’s main achievement.

Read the full review →
Slant Magazine
24 October 2011 · ★★/4 · Jaime N. Christley
50

Christley finds the film lively and handsome but ultimately forgettable. The review praises its visual polish and cat-specific jokes, while faulting its bargain-value adventure and weak material.

Read the full review →
Eye for Film
8 December 2011 · Amber Wilkinson
78*

Wilkinson finds it a lively, high-quality family adventure, just short of being truly top-notch. She praises its cross-generational humor and effective use of 3D, while noting that the plot can feel convoluted and Kitty’s character development is thin.

Read the full review →
Den of Geek
30 October 2011 · 3 out of 5 · Ron Hogan
77*

Hogan finds the film entertaining but lightweight, with action outweighing comedy and depth. He especially praises the vivid 3D swashbuckling and the chemistry between Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek.

Read the full review →
Digital Spy
6 December 2011 · 4 · Stella Papamichael
77*

The review finds the film a fun, visually impressive caper, despite a bumpy plot and Humpty Dumpty's prominence. It praises Banderas's comic performance and the film's striking use of 3D.

Read the full review →
/Film
28 October 2011 · 7 out of 10 · Germain Lussier
77*

The critic finds the film unexpectedly funny, exciting, and enjoyable, though not among DreamWorks’ best. They praise the friendship at its heart, while faulting the adventure for predictable twists and moral unease.

Read the full review →
The Playlist
26 October 2011
70*

The headline frames the film as a fun, worthwhile spinoff. The critic’s specific praise or complaints are unavailable in the page text.

Read the full review →
The Skinny
5 December 2011 · ★★★ · Nicola Balkind
60

Balkind finds the film brisk and enjoyable, with an excellent voice cast and a Spanish-flavoured fairytale world. She criticises its simple, somewhat lazy script and ineffective 3D, while noting the old-film gags and innuendo aimed at adults.

Read the full review →

Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate