Shrek the Third

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 23, 2007

Over two previous films, Shrek has had to learn to live with being the King. With the first Shrek film in 2001, the big green ogre became the King of all the animated creatures in Hollywood’s forest as he was thrust into the lives of millions of children across America and the world. With Shrek 2 in 2004, the big guy laid claim to the top spot on the “All-Time Highest Grossing Animated Film” chart. He then became the King of all things marketing, with Shrek toys, clothing and other paraphernalia showing up faster than Michael Jackson at a Boy Scouts meeting. Now with Shrek the Third, Shrek is forced to take on the role of being King of Far, Far Away… His toughest challenge yet.

Shrek the Third sees the return of every one of our favorite characters from the previous two films. Donkey (Eddie Murphy) is still zealous and annoying, Puss in Boots stills sounds like Antionia Banderas and Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) still has big ole’ Shrek (Mike Myers) wrapped around her finger. And when the King of Far, Far Away (voiced by John Cleese) kicks the froggy bucket, Shrek is put in a position that he neither wants nor is fit to have: as the new King. The only way out is for Shrek to go and find Fiona’s cousin Arthur (voiced by Justin Timberlake) who is the only other possible heir to the thrown. But as Shrek journeys on with his posse in tow, his old nemesis Prince Charming plots to take over Far, Far Away in his absence.

And as you can see, there isn’t much here in the way of a story, but that can be expected. Once you get to a third installment in any series, you begin to run out of good ideas. The benefit of this lack of ideas is a film that is beneficially brief, something that will play well with the moms and dads of the world. There is no stopping your kids from wanting to see Shrek on the big screen, so the experience might as well be short, right? Some critics have even complained that Shrek the Third feels rushed, and it may well be, but if it weren’t rushed we’d be in for one boring ride. I say, chalk that up as a smart move on the part of the filmmakers.

Another smart move by Co-Directors Chris Miller and Raman Hui was to bring back all of the familiar voices that made this series such a powerhouse in the first place. Mike Myers returns to lend Shrek his vivacious personality, Cameron Diaz is still sweet as Fiona and even Rupert Everett gives Prince Charming his swagger and devious nature. The real show-stealers are Fiona’s princess pals, who deliver tons of laughs and plenty of action as they try to save Far, Far Away with a little bit of princess power. Maya Rudolph as Rapunzel, Cheri Oteri as Sleeping Beauty, Amy Poehler as Snow White and Amy Sedaris as Cinderella all turned out to be perfect matches to give a little bit of attitude to some beloved fairy tale characters.

It is that attitude that is thankfully not lost on this entire series of films. While Shrek the Third is at heart a film for the little ones, there is plenty of laughs to be had for the bigger kids as well. That is the inherent genius of these films, and while this installment may not be perfect and is certainly not the best of the three, it stills manages to keep us laughing and entertained throughout its 93 minute run time. In a summer that will be filled with plenty of sequels to favorite franchises, it appears that Shrek should be the one who is feared most at the box office, as he is once again the King of family entertainment.

Read more articles by Neil Miller