I admit it...I love the first two Shrek films and despite the so-so reviews I had read I was excited about the 3rd as well......and I was disappointed.
Shrek (Myers) and Fiona (Diaz) are still at the palace, due to her fathers failing health. When the king (Cleese) dies he names Shrek as his heir. But there is another: Artie (Timberlake), so Shrek, Donkey (Murphy), and Puss (Banderas) set off to find him. Meanwhile, Fiona is pregnant...and hanging out with other princesses: her mother Queen Lillian (Andrews), Sleeping Beauty (Oteri) who keeps falling asleep, Snow White (Poehler) the diva, Rapunzel (Rudolph) who is rumored to have extensions, and Cinderella (Sedaris) who has a cleaning obsession; Dragon and Doris (King) the ugly stepsister.
After being publicly humiliated in the last Shrek, Prince Charming (Everett) wants revenge, and asks all the evil characters (like the Queen from Snow White, Rumplestilskin, ther evil trees, Captain Hook, etc) and Doris' sister Mabel (Philbin) to join him in taking over the castle. Will Artie assume the throne? Will Fiona have little ogres? Will Shrek accept fatherhood? Will Charming win?
What were the writers thinking? Where is the classic opening used by the last two...where is the opening song to establish the style and such of the film? The opening, in a dinner theater, was funny...but it went downhill from there. The beauty of the previous Shrek installments was the subtle hits at Disney and pop culture...but this film openly uses the fairytale princesses and it just doesn't work. I like the actresses they chose, and yes some parts were funny or passable, but it didn't work. Even the charm of Puss & Donkey wasn't enough to save this film. Yes, they were excellent as usual, and so was Mike Myers as Shrek...but how was this a kids film? It seemed like a coming of age story...something for adults...and that took away from the film. And the baby idea....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not funny...didn't work.
Yes, I will still probably buy it...but overall I was disappointed
--: there aren't as many one-liners or classic songs...but there are still some classic lines
Rent it once: I wouldn't suggest paying $7 or more to see the film (i went to a matinee b/c they are cheaper), but wait till it hits the stores and rent it (or borrow it for free from public libraries)
Shrek the Third (2007) 92 minutes
Director: Chris Miller and Raman Hui
Starring: Mike Myers as Shrek
Eddie Murphy as Donkey
Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona
Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots
Julie Andrews as Queen Lillian
John Cleese as King Harold
Rupert Everett as Prince Charming
Eric Idle as Merlin
Justin Timberlake as Artie
Larry King as Doris
Larry King as Doris
John Krasinski as Lancelot
Cheri Oteri as Sleeping Beauty
Regis Philbin as Mabel
Amy Poehler as Snow White
Amy Poehler as Snow White
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