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NOTE: This is the same review as done on the
"Shrek the
Third" DVD. Picture and sound quality notes have been added.
Please. No more Shrek. I know I'm too late with that request, because
there's a fourth Shrek movie, a Christmas special and a spin-off of
Puss-in-Boots on the way. Green talks, I know. Money making Shrek.
"Shrek The Third" is now on Blu-ray.
I'm not a Shrek hater. Really really. I thought the original "Shrek"
(2001) had some nice moments, but relied too much on winking at the
audience. Aren't we being clever in ripping on fairy tales and Disney's
mythology factory? And how about highlighting famous actors over a good
story, and giving Mike Myers a lot of fart jokes to play with? "Shrek 2"
(2004) was a surprising sequel that was better than the original. It
expanded on plot and had good laughs throughout. The film even had a
sweetness to it. "Shrek The Third," on the other hand, feels worn and
lacks spark.
The story is simple, yet convoluted. Shrek's father-in-law, King Harold
(John Cleese) croaks as any old frog would, leaving Shrek to take over
the throne. Ever the reluctant hero, Shrek takes Donkey (Eddie Murphy)
and Puss (Antonio Banderas) on a quest to find the rightful heir, a
nerdy kid named Artie (Justin Timberlake). In the meantime, Fiona
(Cameron Diaz) is pregnant.
The series seems like it's running on fumes. I'm sure if the "Shrek"
movies came out when I was 12 years-old, the fart jokes and the spewing
baby barf jokes would be just as hilarious now as they were with the
first "Shrek" movie. I appreciate a gross joke as much as the next
person. But doesn't it seem like most kid movies today go for the cheap
laugh? I understand that the character of Shrek is gross to begin with,
but it seemed that he was more tolerable to watch in "Shrek 2." Mike
Myers, the voice of Shrek, is an extremely talented actor, but his
reliance on jokes based on body functions isn't funny anymore.
The voice talent
in "Shrek The Third" is impressive. You can't go wrong with Julie
Andrews, Eric Idle, John Cleese and Rupert Everett. They do a fine job
in this film. Antonio Banderas really stole the show in "Shrek 2," but
is given very little to work with here. Eddie Murphy gives the character
of Donkey spark, but I can't help to think this character was
essentially the same as Mushu from "Mulan" (1998). Cameron Diaz provides
a sweet and kind presence to the character of Fiona. She's not given
much to work with in this picture, though.
Like a disaster film from the '70s, "Shrek The Third" tries to cram as
many stars into a tight little 92-minute timeframe as possible. Frankly,
when I go to an animated film, I'd rather just concentrate on having a
good time. I'm an animation buff and I can reasonably point out a Chuck
Jones film, or the fact that Mel Blanc did a certain character voice. I
really wish, and this won't be granted, that animated films would be
advertised based on story and character. Part of the magic of an
animated movie is that the voice talent isn't seen in the promotional
ads. The makers of "Shrek" relish in making the voice talent the star. I
can just see the poster for part four with a huge picture of Shrek in
the middle, with little picture boxes of the real life actors on the
bottom. Remember DreamWorks, I came up with that idea!
The animation is very good in "Shrek The Third," though I still have an
issue with how the humans look. They still appear too computerized to my
eyes. Their mouths don't move at all naturally, and their eyes look
rather cold. In "Shrek 2," when Shrek turns into a human being, he
looked human. The other humans, then and now, look too robotic. I think
out of all the characters and animation in this "Shrek" film,
Puss-In-Boots is the best. He's fully fleshed out and has a lot of charm
in his facial expressions.
The score, as with the other "Shrek" movies, relies mostly on
needle-drop music. Harry Gregson-Williams underscores, and I think
appropriately, the film with theme music. Most movies today rely too
much on licensing popular songs, and "Shrek" is guilty of this as well.
"Shrek" is a money-making franchise, no doubt. Being the
anti-Disney/Pixar rival, DreamWorks and PDI (Pacific Data Images) have
created a staple at the movies with the green ogre & his pals. I have no
problem with that. I just wish upon a star that the next Shrek is a lot
fresher, and less crass.
Bill Kallay
Special thanks to Click Communications
Photos: © DreamWorks/Paramount. All rights reserved.
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