Those movies were great, with their anti-Disney anti hero and his grumpy ways – this is merely okay. Where can you go from here? Twee morality message aside, this film feels as tired as an unnecessary fourth film in a done-to-death franchise should and lacks the witty, sharp dialogue that made the first two Shrek movies a hit with adults and children alike. And while Shrek’s off trying to rectify this pretty gargantuan mistake in an alternative reality, Rumplestiltskin’s taking over Far Far Away, and only true love’s kiss from a feminist Fiona (Cameron Diaz) – who’s never met him – will save the kingdom. Except of course, the one day he’s told he’ll have to give up is, naturally, the day he was born. So he goes out, meets Rumplestiltskin and makes a deal that has danger written all over it – any day of his life, in exchange for one day to spend in his pre-Fiona existence. In this, the last episode in the life of everyone’s favourite jolly green giant, Shrek (Mike Myers)experiences an existential crisis that all men, or ogres, seem to favour. Is this really the stuff of fairytales?Īpparently so. But still…an ogre settled with two kids and a wife having a mid life crisis. No, that privilege is reserved for the plot, a weakly rendered “What if?” that film buffs won’t be able to resist calling the poor man’s It’s A Wonderful Life. But such blatant capitalism doesn’t stop it allay its potential to recreate the magic that made the original Shrek such a hit back in 2001. Screenwriters: Josh Klausner, Darren LemkeĮxecutive producers: Aron Warner, Andrew Adamson, John H.There’s an obvious answer to the question “Why make another Shrek film when the last one was simply bad all over?” and it comes in the form of cynical dancing dollar signs for DreamWorks. Production: Intru 3D, Dreamworks Animation SKGĬast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Walt Dohrn, Jon Hamm, Jane Lynch, Craig Robinson, Lake Bell, Kathy Griffin, Mary Kay Place, Kristen Schall Tribeca Film Festival (Paramount Pictures) Newcomers include Dohrn, whose Rumpelstiltskin displays an amusingly hysterical edge Jon Hamm, lending his stern baritone to his role as an ogre who makes Shrek look wimpy and Jane Lynch and Craig Robinson as ogre rebels (the latter particularly funny as a chef whose specialty is chimichangas). The fact that much of the story is set in a literally bleaker landscape doesn’t help matters.Īs per usual with the series, this edition includes numerous pop cultures references - a nod to “The Wizard of Oz” got a big laugh - and several musical montages set to classic pop songs, including the Carpenters’ “Top of the World.”īy this point, the estimable voice talents have their acts down cold, with each once again providing invaluable contributions (especially Banderas, whose hilarious Puss steals scenes with abandon). The 3D effects are undeniably impressive, but like many other examples of this increasingly popular form, some of the visual quality is sacrificed with the inevitable image darkening.
#Shrek forever after series#
(Tellingly, this is the first in the series to be presented in widescreen.)
No doubt looking to exploit the sensory stimulation offered by 3D, the filmmakers have ramped up the action, most notably in a high-flying broom chase featuring Shrek and Donkey and the witches and an elaborate climactic battle sequence. Josh Klausner and Darren Lemke’s screenplay creates some fun with the personality and visual changes the familiar characters have undergone, but as with so many sequels to sequels, “Shrek Forever After” has lost much of the simple charm, humor and heart that marked its predecessors. Suddenly, he finds himself in an alternate Far Far Away in which he was never born: Rumpel is king, Fiona is the fierce warrior leader of a band of rebel ogres, Donkey is in the employ of a band of cackling witches, and Puss, well, Puss has really let himself go - he’s now a pampered housecat with a serious eating disorder.ĭesperate to reclaim his former life, Shrek attempts to woo back Fiona and extract a kiss from his “one true love” that will undo the effects of the spell.
In an effort to shake things up, he enters into an unfortunate pact with the devil or, more precisely, new villain Rumpelstiltskin (borrowed for the occasion from the Brothers Grimm and voiced by story editor Walt Dohrn).