Shrek the Third Movie Review

Pros

• Donkey and Puss In Boots once again steal the show
• Prince Charming performing bad dinner theater - priceless
• Plenty of important messages

Cons

• Those important messages hammer you over the head
• What was new and fresh is now old and stale
• Sorely lacking the sheer fun of the first two films

Description

• Features the voices of Mike Myers, Antonio Banderas, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews, and Justin Timberlake
• Directed by Chris Miller and Raman Hui
• Rated PG for some crude humor, suggestive content and swashbuckling action
• Theatrical Release Date: May 18, 2007

Guide Review - Shrek the Third Movie Review

As we rejoin our familiar friends Shrek (Mike Myers), Fiona (Cameron Diaz), Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas), the King of Far Far Away is dying and Shrek's next in line to wear the crown. But Shrek would prefer to be back in his peaceful swamp and so he sets out to find the only other living heir - Artie (Justin Timberlake). And wouldn't you know it, just as he's about to sail away, Shrek learns he's going to be a dad. Awww, isn't that cute? Baby ogres - I see where Shrek 4's heading (please let it be a direct to video release).

Shrek, Donkey and Puss convince Artie it would be better to be King than continue as his high school's resident whipping boy. Meanwhile, the dastardly Prince Charming gets booed off the dinner theater stage and decides it's time to hook up with Captain Hook and other villains to take over Far Far Away. And back at the ranch, Fiona's princess friends are throwing a baby shower and helping the mom-to-be prepare for the thundering of little ogre feet. When Charming and his evil comrades try to take over, it's up to Fiona and the fairy tale princesses to try and defend the land.

Third Time's Not the Charm

The basic problem with Shrek the Third is that it doesn't have much to add to the series. Shrek and Fiona are the good guys, Donkey and Puss argue, and with the exception of Pinocchio and the Gingerbread Man, there just isn't really anything special about the supporting lot. Artie's a boring guy and no other new minor characters stand out.

Sticking to what you know best isn't a bad thing unless you're serving up the same old, same old while trying to pass it off as new. Sadly, Shrek the Third is an uninspired bit of storytelling that feels as though it was made only to cash in on the franchise's popularity. There are a few decent jokes scattered throughout, but nothing memorable.

GRADE: C