By Dave Steele

Long before the events of “Shrek,” the 2011 animated spinoff “Puss in Boots” tells the tale of a savvy swashbuckling feline by the name of Puss (Antonio Banderas).

Beginning his journey alone, Puss is living the life of a renowned outlaw with a bounty on his head. Stealing from the oblivious while taking strays to his bed with finesse and charm, Puss is quite the anti-hero.

However, after an encounter with the equally scandalous cat Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and the criminal mastermind Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis), Puss finds himself in a treasure hunt that spans the likes of multiple fairy tales.

With inconceivable riches at stake, the gang undertakes a series of schemes to acquire magical beans from murderous duo Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris). But when an ancient power threatens a town’s safety, and conflicting motives within the group threaten the entire operation, it is up to Puss to do the right thing.

Considering the quality of most blockbuster spinoffs (like the gem “Evan Almighty”), most moviegoers more than likely rolled their eyes at the trailer for “Puss in Boots.”

While reluctant to give this movie a chance when it first hit theaters, I was eventually drawn in by the wave of positive reviews — and perhaps the cats, too.

With Dreamworks cranking out classics such as “How to Train Your Dragon,” it wasn’t too surprising that “Puss in Boots” had excellent storytelling and character development.

“Puss in Boots” takes a page from Shrek’s book by blending a medley of fairytales with comic relief to give audiences a final product that was both captivating and hilarious. In fact, “Puss in Boots” actually succeeds where some of the “Shrek” sequels failed. When director Chris Miller (“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”) focuses more on lining a quality plot with jokes, rather than the other way around, the result is truly a treat.

The voice acting for Puss in Boots was also terrific. Banderas and Hayek have displayed formidable chemistry in past films, such as “Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” and “Puss in Boots” is no exception.

With a great story, talented cast and breathtaking visuals, “Puss in Boots” is just another example of how Dreamworks continues to give Pixar a run for its money.

Steele’s Reels: 4/5 Stars