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Title: Shrek The Third
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| CONSUMER ADVICE |
Parents, though the Shrek franchise is still recommended for older kids, they will be pleased to see Shrek is more tame and less vulgar hen he has been in the previous two films. Recommended for ages 10 and up. |
"Shrek The Third" is the next chapter in the "greatest fairy tale never told." This I believe is partly true, as there is a series of Shrek children's books by author William Steig, but I also believe these have never entered the Amazon.com best sellers list. Besides, the story has been re-written so much by now, that I doubt the movies have anything in common with the children's books anymore, especially since the movies seem more targeted to adults then anything. Yes, I said adults. These are not kids films. And I'm not saying that just because the film has bad language, crude humor, and sexual innuendoes that seem to pop out of nowhere. I just find the overall storylines to be aiming pretty high. Yeah, I'm sure kids could relate to the first Shrek film, where the rude but lovable ogre showed us all to look past appearances and into someone's heart instead.
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Come the second time around though Shrek was having to deal with the thought of meeting his in-laws, a humorous topic that I'm sure was lost on many kids. With "Shrek The Third" the ogre finds himself in now one, but two new pickles. Having to deal with potential new responsibilities of running a kingdom after his father-in-law croaks, and learning that his wife is pregnant (his response to the latter is the same oxymoron response all irresponsible men give: "How could this have happened?"). But whatever, so Shrek has to deal with the thought of running a kingdom AND being a father! Well, maybe not. Turns out Fiona's cousin Arthur (who goes by the name Artie, and is voiced by a non-singing Justin Timberlake) could choose to take over the throne and let Shrek off the hook here.
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No one has much advice for how to get out of the whole being a father thing, and the issue of birth control and abortion are thankfully left out of the script. So while Shrek, Donkey, and Puss In Boots make a trek to snatch Artie, making as many pop culture reference jokes along the way, Prince Charming decides he wants to be a real villain for once, and units Captain Hook, Snow Whites Queen, talking trees (most likely leftover from "The Two Towers"), and many other fairy tale villains to accomplish this task. The fact that Prince Charming actually makes for a pretty menacing villain comes as quite a shock, though looking back at "Shrek 2," I realize he never gave us a reason to not think he was a wet mop, he was just lurking the shadows of his overbearing mother.
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But is any of this funny? Is Shrek starting to overstay his welcome a bit with this third installment? I remember thinking it ridiculous that Dreamworks was making a second Shrek movie, feeling that a sequel to a movie that didn't take itself seriously in the first place to be a suicide move, never mind the thought of making a third film. And now there's a forth film coming. Is this overkill? I don't think so. I see Shrek as a friend we like to check up on once in awhile. Yeah he's gross, and he doesn't take himself too seriously, but he's a nice guy, and usually more pleasant to be around then some of our more rowdy family members. I say this now as a fair warning: You WILL be disappointed in this movie! There's really no way not to be. "Shrek 2" was a surprise because we didn't think it was possible to make a good sequel to the original film.
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"Shrek The Third" will disappoint you because you know a proper sequel CAN be made, it just isn't made! Several scene's that don't work are the fact that the movie takes itself more seriously then the previous two films while not really offering much in the way of substance. Some of the banter between Donkey and Puss seem obligatory then inspired. One scene is extremely stereotypical in way it creates conflict, and is such an old cliche that we are surprised to see it in the script. Aren't the Shrek movies popular because they mock movies that use these sort of cliches?!
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Having this cliche as a legitimate part of the story seems below the film, and it actually makes you groan as you watch the anti-Disney movie slip into some Disney territory here. Yet there are still many inspiring moments to be found. The famous wizard Merlin shows up halfway through the movie and acts in ways you'd never think Merlin would act. For that matter, some of the frank discussions about babies, pregnancy, and fatherhood are funny not because they are outlandish, but because they are true. Then there is a scene where Pinocchio has to talk himself out of a sticky situation, and this scene displays some of the proud pride that says "we are not Disney" that the previous films were known for.
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In terms of star ratings, if "Shrek" was four stars and "Shrek 2" was four and a half, then "Shrek The Third" is three and a half stars. Out of the three it is the weakest, and is sure to disappoint. That said it's still a very enjoyable movie, and unlike "Spider-Man 3" where I feel many people dislike the more they think about it, I think people will think back and grow more fond of this movie as they remember key moments that made them laugh. This means that "Shrek The Third" will get better with repeat viewings, and it will inspire another couple of years of people quoting their favorite scenes once more.
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