Shrek Forever After

Director: Mike Mitchell
Cast: (Voices of) Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas and Cameron Diaz
Releasing in cinemas: 17 June 2010
Rated: PG

Franchise series so often become dreary after a couple of sequels. Not so Shrek, for despite covering some old ground with favourite characters, the latest Shrek adventure arrives with surprising verve and nearly as much entertainment value as the original. There’s enough sardonic humour and subtle references to keep adults amused while the kids chortle along.

After surviving his adventures with the dragon, rescuing the lovely princess Fiona and saving the in-laws’ kingdom, Shrek’s browned off with the tedious domesticity of his life and wants to put some hormones back and frighten folks with his roar. This leads to a Faustian pact with a sneaky little gnome, the rascally Rumpelstiltskin, which results in Shrek losing the day of his birth. So Shrek’s shot into a parallel universe where the Far Far Away kingdom has gone to Rumpel and his evil witches who hunt ogres; and also where Shrek and Fiona have never met and his friends donkey and Puss in Boots don’t even know him.

Fiona, who presides over the embattled ogres as their Boadicea-style warrior leader, simply can’t understand Shrek’s amorous approach; for a simple kiss of love will solve the whole problem. The battle begins with the odds in favour of Rumpel, but Shrek still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Film buffs may notice a concept similarity with the old Frank Capra classic It’s A Wonderful Life and a touch of The Wizard of Oz. The Shrek adventures have a happy irreverence of Hans Christian Andersen and the Grimms; even the Pied Piper gets paid in this episode. It’s rollicking good family fun, the tempo kept bubbling along by Mike Mitchell’s sharp direction. Pop music is used appropriately throughout to advantage.

Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas (The Legend of Zorro), wins the prize this time round for the smartest gags with a delightful concept that he’s developed a weight problem from over-indulgence. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz score again voicing the central characters, with the supporting cast giving of their best. However it’s fair to say that Shrek has done the hard yards and should be rested after this outing. Seems Puss will take over the mantle in a new film being planned.

The animation and cinematography impress right from the opening shots. Walt Disney might be surprised to find that in this day and age, whole cities of people are involved in making an animated film. Certainly they provide employment on large scale if at high cost, and perhaps at the loss of the artistic merit and nostalgic charm of hand drawn images in the old manner. That’s wishful thinking however as today's technology has given a new dimension to animation, an advance most young people will applaud.

Fortunately 3D keeps getting better and better. Here the depth perception is exceptional and a ride on a broomstick works like a charm. I recommend you make the effort to see the 3D version. All in all, Shrek Forever After is a fitting close to the Shrek saga, one of the more successful animated franchises.

John Bale