So, most of you know by now that I’m a proud member of the Netflix Stream Team, and dig sharing the best of the curated best each month. It’s true. But I also dig going my own way now and again, and circling back to rave about a flick or two that’s caught my family’s eye (and WiiMote). Here’s one.
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There are so many good shows streaming on Netflix right now. SO MANY. For grownups, they include the wonderfully weird Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Chef (which I’ve personally watched twice with my mother in the last month alone. Who knows how many more times she’s viewed it in my absence. Now that’s a MOVIE). And for littles, there’s the Disney flick featuring P.J.’s favorite princess ever- Mulan. (Wouldn’t that be a fun online quiz? “Which Disney princess does your husband prefer?”)
But we’re gonna take it in a different direction this month:
The #StreamTeam Movie Originally Intended For
Kids But Thoroughly Overtaken By Me, The Mama
Guys, I love Puss in Boots. He was easily my favorite character in Shrek (and Shrek 2). And as P.J. pointed out to me, Antonio Banderas did a cool thing by turning a fairytale into Mexican lore. (Sidebar: Yes, P.J. and I watch a lot of little kid movies. Yes, we allow the kids to watch them, too. Sometimes.)
We recently watched Puss in Boots as a miniseries (our kids are still young enough that we can convince them movies are three-parters. Sometimes being the grownup is the funnest thing ever). And I love Antonio Banderas. I love Salma Hayek (because she voices a feline heroine who needs zero saving). And the duo of Giant Jack and Giant Jill (Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris) are- if not warm n’ fuzzy- gruff and hilarious.
You know how so many kids’ movies have funny asides for the parents? I kinda feel like this movie has grownup appeal and funny asides for the kids.
Humpty Dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) makes a lot of egg jokes. The rumor of whether or not a cat always lands on his feet is addressed. There is a character legitimately named Ohhh Cat who, when something borderline shocking occurs, puts a paw to his mouth and addresses the camera with a scandalized “Ohhhhh….” (I never claimed my sense of humor was a finely honed thing of maturity.)
Above all else, Puss in Boots is a caper. I adore a good caper. Even more? I adore a film that I’ll happily (willingly/readily/joyfully) watch with my children. Like- with. View in real time, with nary a glance at a smart device.
Okay, maybe one glance.
(Ohhhh…)
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