Nothing shows a movie franchise’s age like rehashing of one of the basic plots for all movies: two formerly endearing characters have settled down with children and one has a mid-life crisis. So boring. So stale.
Shrek Forever After is, thankfully, the last of the Shrek movies. At least that’s what they tell us but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed. It should have been called Dreck Forever After. It’s a train wreck, I tell you. Bleck!
I fear the creative well of Mike Myers’ brain may be tapped. Why else would he be associated with this garbage? His last attempt to bring a new character into the world was a complete disaster, not an ogre but still an ugly monster. Did anyone actually see The Love Guru besides me? Did anyone like it, or at least not be completely offended by it?
This sequel put our somehow likeable but still belligerent hero Shrek (a tired Myers) at the height of new family anxiety. Three babies do not always equate with domestic bliss. He finds himself missing his former life so he strikes up a deal with Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn), a magical mischief-maker trying to make a major power grab. He has his sights set on the throne of Far Far Away. The raw deal finds Shrek experiencing a day as if nothing ever changed except that it all benefits the bad guy and our green hero must find a way to make it right again.
The whole what would happen if? alternate reality premise has been done and overdone so there’s nothing new here. As far as the RealD 3D rendering of the movie … well, it’s not that good and only provides brief interesting sequences involving witches flying on broomsticks and a carriage with a train of horses charging forward and outward. If you’re going to watch this, save your money and watch it in 2D.
Mostly what is lacking in this kids’ movie is a sense of humour. Laughs only exist because of the side characters, notably Puss (Antonio Banderas — in a brief, but rotund appearance), Donkey (the otherwise unfunny Eddie Murphy) and a gruff-voiced lollipop-sucker who keeps repeated the same entreaty for Shrek to growl.
To paraphrase an opera saying, it ain’t over till the fat ogre sings. Shrek sings in this movie. Please let it be over now.
Review
Shrek Forever After<br />Directed by: Mike Mitchell<br />Starring the vocal talents of: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Walt Dohrn, John Cleese and Julie Andrews<br />Now playing at: Grandin Theatres, Cineplex North Edmonton, Westmount Centre Cinemas, and Scotiabank Theatre<br />Rated: PG<br />Stars: 2.0
