The Legend of Zorro is a sequel to the popular Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones Mask of Zorro film of 1998. Like its predecessor the new film is an action adventure romp that blends romance, outrageous stunts and slapstick humor. It feels like a throwback to the Disney films of the 1960’s—lots of bloodless action to keep the kids interested; the bad guys are really bad and get their deserved comeuppance and there’s even a bit of a history lesson in there as well.
Sometimes less is more. Often a supporting character who flits in and out of the action, brightening up every scene s/he is in, is the cat’s meow. But promote that same character to center stage and the results can be as much fun as coughing up a hairball.
In “Puss in Boots” Antonio Banderas gives the character Puss in Boots, the plucky ginger cat, a tenth life as the leading feline in an all new animated spinoff to the popular “Shrek” series. This is a prequel, the origin story of how an orphan cat became a boot-wearing legend, and how his curious friendship with Humpty Alexander Dumpty (Galifianakis) almost killed the cat.
“Puss in Boots” is more an action movie than a comedy, more cute than good. The sharp writing and the fairy tale in-jokes of the “Shrek” series are both MIA, replaced with a standard story with some romance, some intrigue, some action and even a quick lesson in why you shouldn’t declaw your cats.
There are some inventive, fun scenes, like a Sergio Leone inspired cat dance fight featuring a move called the Litter Box, and Banderas has a great character voice, but too often the movie is content to take the easy route story wise. Also please, can we call a moratorium on “The first rule of Fight Club” jokes?
Puss in Boots brightened up the “Shrek” movies, but here, a weak voice cast–Zach Galifianakis and Salma Hayek bring little more than name recognition to the roles of Humpty Dumpty and Kitty Softpaws–and an even weaker script render a once effective character neutered.
The best thing you can say about Take the Lead is that it is what it is. Once you have seen the trailer with its stylish fast cut shots of attractive young people dancing up a storm, Antonio Banderas smoldering for the camera and beat-heavy dance music you know what’s going to happen in the movie. Usually I hate that, but in this case I found myself caught up in the story about a ballroom dance teacher who decides to help a group of misfit inner city school kids learn about teamwork, respect and trust by teaching them the waltz, the rumba and the tango. This is an “inspirational coach movie.” Think of it as Cha Cha Chariots of Fire or Dancing with the Stars with slide rules.
Banderas plays Pierre Dulaine, based on a real-life dancer who ventured into rough schools and helped transform the lives of kids through dance. Banderas brings his trademarked passion to the role, and it is that enthusiasm that helps sell this movie. The storyline is predictable but touching and the filmmakers have done a good job of setting up the backstories of the characters so we actually care about them. By the time we get to the big dance-off—you know there has to be a big dance-off—we have left all preconceptions of reality behind and are simply rooting for the kids to win because by this point ion the movie we have come to know and like them.
Take the Lead is an after-school special elevated by endearing performances and some pretty snappy dance moves.
