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Shrek The Third
Directed by: Chris Miller and Raman Hui
Starring: Mike Myers (voice)
Genre:
Animated
Run Time: 92
min.
Release Date:
May 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Franchise films run the
risk of overdoing it. This means becoming stale, predictable, or simply
trying so hard to produce something off-kilter that it either alienates
itself from its predecessors or, if not, becomes a cliché of sorts.
The first SHREK was original, hysterically funny, and witty.
Michael Myers’ portrayal of a grumpy yet lovable ogre was spot-on. As
was Eddie Murphy’s (DREAMGIRLS)
Donkey. SHREK 2 was helped tremendously by the incorporation of
Puss-N-Boots played by Anthony Banderas’ over-the-top
voice.
All of the above are still in SHREK THE THIRD, and added to the cast are
Justin Timberlake as Artie, the lost heir to the thrown of Far Far Away.
Also coming in is Eric Idle as Merlin, a washed up magician living away
from the shame of his past.
What made the previous two Shrek films funny makes this one overly
predictable and simply not laughable. It does have its moments, but they
aren’t thanks to Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, or Puss-N-Boots. Little things
like Queen Lillian’s (Julie Andrews) head ramming and singing are what
sprinkle the film with a few light laughs. There are no belly-jiggling
funnies to be found.
The forced entry of the story of King Arthur (i.e., Artie) stilts the
story terribly with the exception of Eric Idle’s Merlin who does a few
comical incantations that don’t quite work out the way they’re supposed
to. Whereas the previous two films used other fairy tales to great
advantage (the first one incorporated so much you’d be hard-pressed to
include them all in one review, and the second one, too, had a few jabs
at Disney itself), this one tries to beat the viewer over the head with
the magic and it doesn’t translate to much of anything .
Even so, this is a modestly entertaining Shrekfest. All of the familiar
characters are there and most movie watchers will feel right at home.
But don’t expect much from them.
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Image from Shrek The Third
DVD cost: $18.99
Purchase:
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Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
After the queen smashes
her head through the second wall she begins to hum "Just a Spoonfull of
Sugar" from Mary Poppins and then "These Are a Few of My Favorite
Things" from The Sound of Music (1965). The voice of the queen is
Julie Andrews who sings the songs in Mary Poppins and The
Sound Of Music.
Movie Quote: "Everybody
stay calm. We're all gonna die!"
Other Actors/Actresses
from Shrek The Third
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