Movie Review: "Shrek the Third"

Also known as: “Shrek and the Perilous Third.”

Featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Rupert Everett, etc. Directed by Chris Miller.

NOTE: The review contains spoilers.

When we last left Shrek (Myers), he and Fiona (Diaz) had made it to the land of Far Far Away and met with Fiona’s parents. The film opens with Shrek filling in for the King (Cleese). Cut to the King’s deathbed where he tells Shrek that either Shrek rules the kingdom, or he has to find his nephew Arthur Pendragon (Timberlake). After a funeral where the King is placed in Ye Olde Footlocker shoebox and sent out to sea, serenaded by frogs singing, “Live and Let Die,” Shrek sets on a mission to find Arthur. If the threat of finding a new king and not being the king of Far Far Away weren’t enough, Fiona is pregnant.

Meanwhile, Prince Charming (Everett) is in the swamp performing musical theatre. Fed up with his lot in life, he goes back to the Rotten Apple and gathers all the fairy tale villains to help him storm the castle and take over the land of Far Far Away.

And, Arthur is a geek going to a prestigious school who no one likes. And Merlin? A self-help magician living in the forest.

Quite a few reviews will have this as a lesser of the three Shrek films. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I didn’t find this as entertaining as “Shrek 2,” where I sat in the theatre and counted how many movies and TV shows they were referencing. Not to say that there weren’t funny references in “Shrek the Third”; there’s a great reference to “Blazing Saddles,” as well as two kids playing “Dungeons and Dragons.” I think that “Shrek the Third,” had to take a hard curve into becoming more mature with the nature of the story.

My favorite sequence was when the female characters (Fiona, Snow White, etc.) storm the castle. The music changed from Disney to Led Zeppelin to Heart. It’s a great scene.

So, is it worth watching? I enjoyed watching it, but I’m not a huge fan of the character of Shrek. If you want to be safe, catch it during a matinee showing or wait for video.

My grade: B-