Way back…ok hang on…A Long, long time ago…isn’t that how fairy tales start? Hang on, thats Star Wars. Right, I’ll go again! Once upon a time, in 2001 a much delayed movie smashed onto the big screen and was one of the first giant hits for Dreamworks and more importantly, it brought their animation department into the big time. Fast forward 9 years, and 3 movies later and the final Shrek movie has arrived. And yes, it's in 3D!
Shrek Forever After has all your favourites back and this time round, poor ol Shrek is sick to the back of his rotten teeth with life. The whole happy families deal just doesn’t seem to be for our beloved green ogre. As a matter of fact, Shrek misses the days of being an Ogre and bringing tyranny and oppression to the surrounding countryside. So as this longing of yesteryear grows, Shrek signs a contract with Rumpelstiltskin, who in return for a day of his life, will give Shrek a day of his old self back. All is well and Shrek is back to causing problems, scaring the locals and so on. Except for the fact that the day that Rumpy took was the day Shrek was born, so he ceases to exist. Nobody knows who he is anymore. Can things ever return to normal? Will true love prevail as Shrek tries desperately to get out of this alternative reality where Stiltskin rules the roost.
As per usual, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas are all back lending their voices and a few new additions as well including Craig Robinson. All deliver their lines with gusto, but there’s not alot of funny here either in the dialogue or the physical jokes. . With the exception of the Walt Dohrn voiced Rumplestiltskin who to be fair has his moments of brilliance. That said though, overall It’s all rather bland as a matter of fact. I watched this in a packed cinema full of kids and parents and you could count the laughs on one hand. To be honest I was expecting my mind to melt from kids laughing out loud with annoying laughs, but alas that didn’t happen. Even a tubby Puss ‘n boots failed to get the laughter going. Come to think of it, a teaser trailer for Despicable Me raised more laughs in 90 seconds!
Shrek Forever After is also available in 3D and contrary to what I had read about the 3D, it is rather functional and at times there are great senses of depth and immersion. While it’s not mind blowing, you do forget that you are watching a 3D movie. At times though the 3D to my eyes anyway, seems a bit intermittent. Try taking off the glasses from time to time and you’ll see what I mean. It has a little bit of Titans syndrome if you ask me.
Shrek Forever After is far removed from the original’s brilliance and even the second movie and whilst it’s better than the third movie, it won’t blow your socks off. That said I was a little teary at the end, given I’ve been a Shrek fan since the get go and this being the final Shrek movie and all. But our clumsy and awkward green hero deserved a better send off than this clumsy and awkward movie that, while not a complete disaster, does not deliver!
