Puss in Boots: The Last Wish | Themes and Meaning

In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, we talk about themes that help us understand the film. 

Cast

• Puss in Boots – Antonio Banderas
• Kitty Softpaws – Salma Hayek Pinault
• Perrito – Harvey Guillén
• Wolf/Death – Wagner Moura
• Goldilocks – Florence Pugh
• Baby Bear – Samson Kayo
• Papa Bear – Ray Winstone
• Mama Bear – Olivia Colman
• Big Jack Horner – John Mulaney
• Ethical Bug – Kevin McCann
• Mama Luna – Da’Vine Joy Randolph

The themes and meaning of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

The fear of death

A lot of people have an awakening to their own mortality. When you’re young, death can feel like such a far away thing, restricted to old age. Even in your 20s, there’s a sense of so much life ahead. But in your 30s? 40s? You start to become aware of what it is to no longer exist. And that can be absolutely terrifying. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish explores this awareness through the main character’s fear of Wolf. Wolf is the embodiment of this existential fear. Even the thought of “Wolf” can be enough to send us into a tizzy. How do you face that fear? How do you come to accept its presence in your life? The answer presented in the film is through love and friendship, by not idolizing our youth but appreciating our present. 

Wishes aren’t the answer

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has multiple characters in pursuit of using the wishing star, all because they hope the wish will fill a void in their life. Puss wants nine more lives, so he no longer has to fear death. Kitty wants someone she can trust, so she can no longer be lonely. Goldilocks wants a human family. And Jack Horner wants all the magic in the world. 

At one point, Puss comes face to face with who he was when he had nine lives. And he was fun but superficial. Arrogant. Unreliable. The Puss who has only one life doesn’t see the same appeal in being that person again, the “legend”. In fact, he flashes to the nights he was cold and alone. His life had superficial highlights but lacked depth and companionship. Would having nine more lives really solve the heart of the issue?

Kitty admits she doesn’t need a wish to find someone she can trust. It’s just a matter of friendship and shared experience. She has that with both Puss and Perrito. And it seems safe to say she could have it with more people if she just let them in. 

Goldilocks also already has a family. It may not be perfect, or even human, but they love her, they support her, and they sacrifice for her. What more could she really want, aside from aesthetics? Perrito puts it into perspective when he tells her she hit the orphan lottery. Those words resonate with her and she also gives up on the wish. 

Then there’s Jack Horner. Jack’s just a deeply selfish person. Nothing’s good enough for him. He wants more and more. He believes he deserves more and more. That’s clear in his wish: to have all the magic so no one else has any. The thing is, he already had what might have been the largest collection of magical items. Famous object after famous object. The sword Excalibur. The phoenix. The flying carpet. Cinderella’s glass slipper. A bottomless bag. A concerning collection of unicorn horns. Does he really need more? Would having all the magic really be enough? 

Puss, Kitty, and Goldilocks all give up on making the wish. They survive and walk away with a sense of satisfaction. Jack does not give up on the wish, and he does not survive. 

What are your thoughts?

Are there more themes you think should be part of the Colossus Movie Guide for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish? Leave your comments below and we’ll consider updating the guide.