This is a perfectly competent DreamWorks spinoff that does exactly what it sets out to do: give the scene-stealing cat from Shrek his own adventure. The animation holds up reasonably well, Banderas is delightful, and the fairy tale mashup is clever enough.
That said, it's not essential viewing. The story is formulaic (outlaw seeks redemption, old friend betrays him, learns the value of true friendship), and while the execution is solid, nothing here will blow your mind. The 85% critic score feels a bit generous by today's standards—it's more of a 'yeah, that was fine' movie than a 'wow, we need to watch that again' movie.
If your kids loved Shrek or are into swashbuckling adventures, this will entertain them just fine. If they're ambivalent, you're not missing much by skipping it. It's the cinematic equivalent of a well-made chicken nugget: satisfying in the moment, forgettable by tomorrow.





