Paws of Fury (2022)
Honestly, what I got from this movie was really what I was expecting. But I mean that in a good way, though. It's not really the groundbreaking storytelling type, just something to use to pass time, maybe laugh a little, and relax. That was exactly the mindset I had when I decided to watch Paws of Fury. An animated film about a dog training to become a Samurai in the land of cats? Honestly, that was already funny enough for me to begin with.
But as it turns out, the movie had a bit more going than just that. No doubt the humor and amusement were all there. But beneath the surface, it's a story about finding the courage to stand tall even when the odds are against you.
The main character, Hank, is a dog who finds himself not just in a society full of cats but also a society where they have a strict policy of not welcoming dogs. He dreams of becoming a samurai which is laughable to the cats who dominate the land. But when the corrupt official, Ika Chu, tries to get rid of Hank by sending him to protect a defenseless town, Hank sees this as a chance to prove himself. What follows is a mix of loyalty, comedy and training sequences that brings out the fun at classic martial arts tropes.
At first, it all looked like the predictable set up of the underdog (see what I did there?). But the dynamic shifts when you start seeing Hank's relationship with Jimbo, who's voice behind the character was Samuel L. Jackson. Jimbo is a washed-up former Samurai who reluctantly becomes his mentor. The bond is what mostly gives flavor to the movie. The comedy delivers fun that keeps you entertained throughout the movie.
The movie just kept me smiling. The message about standing up for yourself, breaking barriers and not letting people's perceptive towards you define your life was really inspiring. Especially because Hank wasn't just fighting villains, he was fighting against a society that told him he didn't belong.
Aside the action, the jokes are what caught my interest the most. The kind of jokes that you'll have to rewind it to hear it again even if you heard it perfectly the first time. The film's timing is another thing I commend. They made sure not to over stretch it unnecessarily. The strength of the movie lies mainly in the simplicity while dishing out fun at the same time.
This is the kind of film I don't delete immediately after watching because I'm likely to revisit it, even if I don't watch it from beginning to end but maybe to just revisit some memorable parts in the movie that made me laugh.
Paws of Fury may look like another regular animated movie to some people, but then it gives value beyond the laughs. It proves that sometimes, even movie you expect the least from can give you something worthwhile. I give the movie a rating of 8/10.