Sunday, May 23, 2010

Shrek Forever After: Review

Shrek Forever After -Poster - The Final Chapter | A Constantly Racing Mind R eported to be the last of the Shrek films, "Shrek Forever After" completes the franchise with this charming, but cautionary tale of being careful of what you ask for -- and read the fine print.  Starring the returning voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, and the multi-talented Walt Dohrn providing several voices and stars the film's bad guy, Rumpelstiltskin.  Paramount released "Shrek Forever After," in both a 3D version and a non 3-D version, although purely a personal choice, I would go with the 'non 3D' version.

"Shrek Forever After" provides a quick back-story of how Princess Fiona (Diaz) is cursed, and locked up in a tower by a fire-breathing dragon.  How her parents the King and Queen voice by John Cleese and July Andrews, respectively are about to allow Rumpelstiltskin to trick them into signing away the Kingdom of Far Far Away over to him.  At the last moment, a herald brings them news that Shrek lifted Fiona's curse.

Rumpelstiltskin, with the taste of power in his grasp is now out for revenge on Shrek.  Moving forward to nowadays, Shrek, Fiona, and their three baby ogres go through the day-to-day routines that make up life.  Activities like feeding babies, changing babies, fixing outhouses, and the daily tour bus of fans watching as Shrek takes a mud bath, all of which are driving him crazy.  Looking back at the days as a bachelor, when he could roam free, scare villagers, and have no responsibilities, Shrek longs for those days to return.  At the pivotal scene, after losing his temper at his kid’s birthday party, Shrek makes the mistake that we all sometimes make by saying something he will regret later.  Unbeknownst to Shrek, from behind a pile of garbage Rumpelstiltskin is lurking and hears Shrek's lament.  Shrek, telling Fiona that he wished he never saved her from the tower and lifted her curse; he starts a long and lonely walk home.  Taking advantage of the situation, Rumpelstiltskin lays in wait for Shrek to come down the road and as he fakes an accident with his carriage.  After his 'rescuing,' Rumpelstiltskin invites Shrek in for some food and an ‘eyeballtini,’ loosening him up while talking Shrek into signing over to him a day from his life.  As we all do in life, looking for that easy way out of problems, Shrek signs the contract, laden with many clauses and fine print. Rumpelstiltskin and the carriage disappear, and Shrek is left to figure out what life is like in The Kingdom Of Far Far Away as he was never born.


Shrek Forever After: Shrek with Fergus, Farkle and Felicia  | A Constantly Racing Mind

Not as funny as the first three films, "Shrek Forever After" is still an enjoyable movie to see with the kids during the matinee times.  The story is uncomplicated, and is a play on the It’s a Wonderful World theme, as Rumpelstiltskin says, "how’s that for metaphysical paradox?"  The jokes are mediocre, and missing the same power that the previous films had.  The character that kept the movie going was Rumpelstiltskin voiced by Walt Dohrn.  Dohrn also provided the voice of the Priest and the one of the Ogres.  At the end of the film while taking note of the credits I also noticed that he also contributed screenplay material, was a story artist, and wrote the "Birthday Bash" song that all the characters sang in the film.  Musically the film had plenty to offer in the way of hits; from The Carpenter’s "Top of the World" at the beginning to Maxine Nightingale’s "Right Back Where We Started From" at the end.  The film includes Donkey singing some of our favorite tunes, like Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," and James Taylor's "You've Got A Friend," while pulling the cart with the captured Shrek and doubling as a car radio.  The animation is excellent and need to watch this movie in 3D is unnecessary.

This is a family movie and everyone  will find something to enjoy "Shrek Forever After."  I found the film to be charming and story, although simple, easy to sit through for an hour and a half.  While watching this film, the notion came to mind of a baseball game, after eight innings of play, and you are scoring well ahead of the other team, as a coach, you decide to bring up from the bullpen one of your less experienced pitchers and let him have a go at it.  It seems that DreamWorks Animation decided to just that and selected director Mike Mitchell to have a go at it.  My advice, as I have stated before is to watch the non 3D version, as I don't think it is worth the extra three dollars for the pair of glasses.  I already wear prescription glasses and having placed another set over mine is a hassle.  Take the kids, go to the matinee times in your area, watch the regular version or, if you prefer, the IMAX version and enjoy Shrek for the last time.

Movie Data
Genre: Animation,  Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Year:  2014
Staring:  Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Walt Dohrn, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese
Director: Mike Mitchell
Producer(s): Teresa Cheng, Gina Shay
Writer: Josh Klausner, Darren Lemke, William Steig (novel "Shrek!")
Rating: PG 
Running Time: 93 minutes
Release Date: 5/21/2010

Published on 5/23/2010 at Associated Content by Robert Barbere

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