10 Yr Old Critic Reviews “Puss in Boots”

Photo by Zhu Shen

Most people know and love Puss in Boots, the charismatic feline companion of Shrek, but who knows his mysterious past? “Puss in Boots,” a new animation from DreamWorks opening on Oct 28, 2011, reveals the thrilling adventures the swashbuckling orange tabby went on before he met the ogre. The film is a clever mash-up of many well-known nursery rhymes and fairy tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Mother Goose, and Humpty Dumpty.

Puss is trying to find the goose that lays golden eggs so he could clear his name of being a thief and criminal in his own hometown. But, along the way, he encounters many obstacles such as Kitty Softpaws, who is a mysterious cat criminal; his former best friend Humpty; and the two nasty criminals Jack and Jill. The film has a lot of suspense, twists, humor, and strong characters. The Spanish music is lively and fits right into the dramatic scenes.

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My favorite scene is when Puss engaged in a dazzling dance fight with Kitty, and they danced in a spectacular duo. They performed amazing stunts like climbing onto the ceiling and matching each other’s moves in midair. In the background, other cats played an energetic rhythm by scraping fish bones, ringing cow bells, and playing the guitar.

My favorite character is Puss because he is adventurous and daring. He uses his quick wit and reflexes to get out of any situation, no matter how dangerous. But, his best quality is his loyalty. He is loyal to his foster mother, his hometown, and even to his brother Humpty, who once let him down.

Overall, Puss in Boots is “Perrific!” But there are a few flaws. I thought the dance scene where Puss and Kitty discussed their feelings would be better if the dancing is cut short a bit because it isn’t fitting for the mood of that scene. Also, I don’t think that Puss would forgive his old friend Humpty so easily after he betrayed Puss and ruined his reputation as a hero. I give the film 4 starfish.

I would recommend this film to children ages 9 and above because of some mild adult references. Also there are many fight scenes with guns, swords, and other weapons. Finally, there are scenes of men drinking alcohol in a bar. But, for older children and parents, this film is guaranteed to get lots of laughs. I went to the press screening with my mom and my 6th-grade writing teacher Mrs. Hinton, both loved the movie too. Puss in Boots is definitely one of my favorite films of 2011!

Moral: A broken friendship can be healed with a change of heart.

Perry Chen

Perry Chen and Zhu Shen are Carmel Valley San Diego community residents and are a unique son-mother team of talent and aspirations. Perry Chen is the youngest award-winning film/ entertainment critic & animator, artist, speaker, and entertainment personality. He started writing movie reviews at 8 using a kid-friendly starfish rating system, under the guidance of his mom Dr. Zhu Shen and his 3rd grade teacher Ms. Harris. Perry’s debut on the CBS Evening News in 2009 made him a national sensation. He has been featured extensively on local, national, and international media, including NPR, Fox, CNN, NBC, The Guardian, The China Press, and many more. He has interviewed prominent filmmakers at film festivals, red carpet premieres, and press junkets. He won a prestigious “Excellence in Journalism Award” at the San Diego Press Club in 2010 as its youngest member. Perry currently writes movie reviews for the Animation World Network, San Diego Union Tribune, Amazing Kids! Magazine, and his own Perry’s Previews website with a combined readership of over 2 million worldwide.

Zhu Shen

Dr. Zhu Shen’s love for the movies started when she was a young girl, growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution where watching movies was the only entertainment available to the masses. Her journey to become a filmmaker took a convoluted path. She studied medicine at Peking Union Medical College before coming to the US and earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry from University of Colorado, and then an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson School. She is a producer of the upcoming documentary feature “Average Joe on the Raw,” about journey into raw food and health. Dr. Shen is also an award-winning biotech executive, author, speaker, China business expert featured on national and trade media including CBS, Fox, Business Week, Pharmaceutical Executive, and more. She has worked at IBM, Bayer, Chiron, Immusol, and is the CEO of BioForesight, consulting on cross-Pacific life science business. *Photos of Perry Chen and Zhu Shen by Brian Bostrom