Cartoon

2224

When Shrek the ogre's father-in-law dies, he is left as the heir to Far Far Away unless he can find the only other person with a legitimate claim to the throne. While Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots set off on a journey to find this heir, who happens to be a loser of a kid named Arthur, Princess Fiona, pregnant with her first child, is left to face an invasion of villains, led by the evil and handsome Prince Charming, who are intent on creating their own "happily ever after." This movie, while still fun and intelligent with smooth CGI animation, is weaker than its two predecessors in the franchise. The story, with its disparate elements of anxiety over impending parenthood, examination of what it means to be a loser or a hero, villains trying to rewrite their stories, and examination of the motif of princesses waiting to be rescued, feels like it is trying to be too many things to too many people, and never settles on its own vision. Some bathroom humor and swashbuckling action makes the film deserve its PG rating. Recommended for middle schoolers and early high schoolers who have followed the Shrek franchise or who delight in twisted fairy tales or off-beat takes on the legend of King Arthur. ( )

Shrek the Third (Widescreen Edition) ~ Eddie Murphy, Justin Timberlake, Antonio Banderas, and Cameron Diaz (DVD - 2007)