“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” opens with an electric sequence, following a singing orange cat as he dances through a crowd and then, shockingly, dies. Immediately, the tone of the DreamWorks Animation film shifts as the title character, Puss in Boots, discovers that he is on the last of his nine lives. 

The film is startlingly introspective, managing to earnestly present complex topics while remaining engaging and accessible to audiences of all ages.

The cast consists of talking animals and fairytale characters, who feel deeply human, as they learn to accept mortality, mend relationships, better themselves and embrace a complicated reality. These nuanced themes occupy an intentionally simple plot that serves as a vehicle for metaphor, character development and humor rather than a source of narrative suspense. Despite its predictable structure, the film manages to be engaging as it moves between comedic, intense and frightening moments, each shift accented by a fluid, visually striking animation style.

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is a complex, interesting and thought-provoking watch for any audience. For anyone with time to watch a feel-good, beautifully crafted movie, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is a surprisingly worthwhile watch — in the theater or streaming online.