Shrek "the Third a retrospective, (okay, review!)

Last Saturday, my daughters and I went to go see Shrek the Third.  Unfortunately I viewed this solo, as my teenagers requested that I sit "away" from them, but I survived.  Too bad the movie didn't!

So far, all the sequels I've seen this summer have fallen flat.  I know it's hard to repeat successes, but c'mon, there have been sequels which delivered on their expectations.  Too bad Shrek didn't cut it.  All the usual fart jokes and other bodily function depictions were rampant throughout the film, but that was about all that I can say for the dialogue.  The movie appeared to attempt too many things too hard, it was like the little engine that could but in the end it didn't. 

The movie revolves around Shrek's father-in-law, the King of Far Far Away, dying.  Unknown to Shrek, this will make him King, unless they can find his only replacement, Arthur, a take off on King Arthur.  His old rival, Charming, uses this opportunity to unite all the villians to seize the palace while Shrek is gone, and the storyline bounces between the two plots, one of finding Arthur and one of the castle takeover, and although this could prove interesting, there just isn't enough heart in either one to be engaging to the viewer.  Oh, and throw in Fiona's impending motherhood, which Shrek is truly terrified of, and there are so many cliches that it hold nothing new in introspection.

There is one moment where the Shrek team hits the ball.  Merlin teleports them and in doing so, Donkey and Puss change skins.  This diversion is worthy of the original, and was the most engaging part of the movie.

The other part of the movie that piqued my interest is how they always seem to find great music to back up the movie.  This one digs into our rock history with Zepplin and Heart.  The covers, especially of Heart's Barracuda, were superb, although the guitar in it lacked Roger Fisher and Nancy Wilson's great guitar licks.  The vocals were eerily reminiscant of Ann Wilson's youth, and I was thoroughly shocked to find that Fergie, yes, the "glamorous/fergilicious singer, hit a home run in capturing Ann's vocals.  Too bad her talent is wasted on money makers and not showcasing her talent.  Her interpretation of Barracuda will have me buying a soundtrack, the first since "Nightmare Before Christmas."

Wait for the DVD on this one, and guys, if you can't deliver a good sequel, please don't deliver!