No fairytale for Shrek The Third
The first two Shrek movies ripped up the great fairytale storybooks and rewrote them in witty and deliciously irreverent style, writes our movie blogger Carl Jones.
Should they have quit while they were still ahead? On the evidence of Shrek The Third (U), the answer is probably yes.
This latest "threequel" to hit our screens is by no means a turkey, but it lacks the cheek, the energy and the delicious rebellious streak which made its predecessors stand out from an increasingly congested animated crowd.
At times – dare we say it – this film is almost boring.
The kingdom of Far Far Away is crying out for a new ruler, following the death of the beloved King Harold.
The King intended for Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) and Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) to take over the top job, but after making such a pig's ear of standing in while the King was on his deathbed, Shrek feels the loyal subjects may not take kindly to a clumsy ogre with a Scottish accent on the throne.
So the jolly green giant and his loyal sidekicks Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas) embark on a sea-faring journey to track down the rightful heir, Fiona's teenage cousin Prince Artie (Justin Timberlake).
Fiona stays at home to prepare for the birth of her first children, unaware that calculating and vain Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) is scheming to claim the crown and kingdom for himself.
Aided and abetted by a gaggle of storybook characters including Captain Hook and wicked stepmothers and witches, he'll do anything he can to prevent Shrek from succeeding in his quest.
Will Shrek return to save the day before it's too late?
Most of the sight gags seem to have been recycled from earlier films, such as customers milling about in the "Versarchery" store and the usual smattering of pop culture references lampooning the likes of Zorro, The Sound Of Music, Chorus Line and The Six Million Dollar Man.
The dialogue rarely crackles with mischief and offers precious few laughs, and there is a noticeable lack of breathtaking, jaw-dropping set-pieces. Even the film's best sequence which sees Donkey and Puss In Boots swapping bodies after a spell goes awry feels drawn out.
The quality of the animation has improved in leaps and bounds, however: facial detail, such as wrinkles in Shrek's face when he winces, or the movement of Fiona's dress blur the boundaries between reality and imagination.
But there's a downbeat, pedestrian mood permeating through this entire film which will wipe out the feelgood factor for the kids, and if you've not seen the first two Shrek adventures, you could be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss has been about.
See our latest Shrek The Third trailer here.
By Carl Jones
