3.5 out of 5 stars (above average)
Note: My opinion on this film has changed drastically since this review. Upon rewatching it over the years, I feel that the film is a mostly boring affair, with a few jokes that work, but not enough to recommend it to anyone unless they have small children. It will entertain them.
First he downsized Lord Farquaad. Then he destroyed a fairy godmother’s hopes and dreams to rule Far Far Away. Now Shrek (Mike Myers) is back with Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) for another big adventure.
Things in Far Far Away are not very satisfactory. The King (John Cleese) is dying and needs an heir to the throne. Shrek says that although he is next in line to rule, he does not want the job. The king reluctantly tells him where he can find the next heir, Fiona’s cousin Artie (Justin Timberlake).
Shrek sets out to find Artie, leaving the pregnant Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and an unguarded kingdom. The evil Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) is poised to take over the kingdom in revenge for his mummy’s death.
When Shrek gets to the high school where Artie is, he finds that Artie is a loser among his friends. Shrek convinces him to go back to Far Far Away, but on the way back, they have a few detours, like getting briefly marooned on an island, running into a wizard (Eric Idle) and Puss and Donkey switching bodies. Back in the kingdom, Fiona’s baby shower is interrupted by Charming and his new band of bad guys. The princesses and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews) try to escape capture. Unbeknownst to Shrek, Charming has a new plan to get him.
This movie was not as good as the other “Shrek” movies, but it was very funny. For instance: the scene in the high school locker room where the boys put a sign on Donkey’s bottom that reads “I sucketh.” Typical teenage humor. It’s also funny that Prince Charming was stuck working in a dinner theater, and the King’s dying scene is hilarious. In another great scene, Snow White’s peaceful animal song turns into a rock song in which all of the animals attack evil guard trees. My friend Virgil and I were laughing the entire movie.
It would have been better if the plot had not gone a little bit astray, but I still recommend that you see this movie. I personally don’t think there should be another one though.
Rated PG for some crude humor, suggestive content and swashbuckling action.