MovieMantz Review: ‘Shrek The Third’

‘Third’ Time Isn’t Charming Enough

by Scott Mantz

“Shrek the Third”
Featuring the voices of: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy
Directed by: Chris Miller

The first two “Shrek” films were wildly popular, grossing more than $1.4 billion worldwide, and for good reason – they were charming, funny and very smart. But if the latest adventure is any indication, the not-so-jolly green giant might be due for – dare I say it – a make-ogre. There’s no doubt that “Shrek the Third” will rule the box office when it opens on May 18, but on a creative level, it’s not nearly as good as its predecessors, lacking the clever edge that made them so appealing to moviegoers of all ages.

And it all comes down to a weak script, which was credited to no less than 4 screenwriters (including Chris Miller, who also directed). But it seems that when Andrew Adamson, who co-directed 2001’s “Shrek” and 2004’s “Shrek 2,” moved onto greener pastures (with 2005’s surprise hit “The Chronicles of Narnia”), he must have taken something with him. That’s because in the land of Far Far Away, it takes far too long for the story to manifest itself. And when it finally does, it’s far from interesting and, unfortunately, not very funny.

Shrek (Mike Myers) thought that his problems were over, but when his father-in-law croaks, he’s horrified to discover that he’s next in line to rule the kingdom. If that wasn’t bad enough, his wife, Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), reveals that there’s a bun (or two?) in the oven. Shrek tries to evade at least one of his responsibilities by finding the only other heir to the throne – Fiona’s long-lost cousin Artie (Justin Timberlake), a high school misfit with no social skills. But when the vengeful Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) shows up and tries to reclaim the kingdom for himself, it’s up to Shrek, Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) to stop that from happening.

The previous “Shrek” films worked so well because they blended classic fairy tale elements with modern pop culture, making them witty and sharp on a number of levels. “Shrek the Third” tries to continue the process, but the results are less than stellar. It doesn’t help that the returning characters are not as clearly defined as they were (not even Eddie Murphy’s wisecracking Donkey), and the newcomers – particularly Artie, voiced by pop sensation Justin Timberlake – fail to resonate strong enough to take the series in a fresh new direction.

Not that any of that matters, since “Shrek the Third” is bound to rake in plenty of green at the box office. And admittedly, the film does have its moments – most of which are courtesy of the bitter gingerbread man, Gingy – which makes it far better than copycat films like “Hoodwinked” or “Happily N’Ever After.” But with the news that Mike Mitchell (“Sky High”) is in talks to direct “Shrek 4” – and with a “Shrek 5” already in the works – hopefully the filmmakers will bring the series back up to creative speed. That way, moviegoers can truly look forward to living happily ever after – at least, where the big green ogre is concerned.

VERDICT: SKIP IT!

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