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Shrek 4 - Source: ONE News -
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Shrek Forever After
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Walt Dorn, Antonio Banderas
Director: Mike Mitchell
After the creative lacklustre Shrek The Third, you'd think there was little left to do with the jolly green ogre.
But it's back to Far, Far Away this time for Shrek and the gang (Donkey, Puss in boots, Gingerbread man - they're all here) for one (apparently) final outing.
Having taken on dragons, and saved the kingdom in previous adventures, Shrek's now a family man - and hitting a midlife crisis. As domesticated scenes play out, this ogre's reflecting back on what once was; a life as a feared ogre, a terror to the masses and one who wasn't tied down by diapers, feeding and routine.
So when Shrek gets the chance to turn back the clock, courtesy of a devious Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dorn) he takes it. You see, old Stiltskin's still sore about losing the chance to take over Far Far Away after Shrek pipped him to the post and secured Fiona's freedom from the tower (refer to the events of Shrek 1 for more!)
However, Shrek's duped and pretty soon, he finds himself in a parallel world where he's never been born - and so consequently Far, Far Away has been taken over by Rumpelstiltskin and he's hounding out the ogres - including Fiona (who along with Donkey and Puss in Boots have never heard of Shrek).
Can Shrek save the day - once again?
Let's hope Shrek Forever After is the final one - don't get me wrong, there's nothing inherently amiss here - the 3D isn't distracting and is there to flesh out the fairy tale world; it's just that at times it feels like a Shrek too far and a Shrek too familiar.
New additions to the Shrek company fare ok - the Pied Piper is a welcome new face and Rumpelstiltskin has the requisite pantomime bad guy necessities needed as a foil to Shrek;
There's a whole sentimental message about not knowing what you've got until it's gone and that's fine - but the rest of the film feels a little like it's rolling out its greatest hits for one last time.
Puss in Boots is a fatter model this time round but the story still milks the big cute eyes gag to comic effect; and the Donkey and Shrek dynamic is essentially the same as the first but it still sparkles - it's just that you can't help shake the feeling that you've seen this all before and there's nothing new to love.
It's hard to be cynical when you're watching a fairy tale - this
final Shrek will work as family entertainment - but don't be
surprised if you end up feeling slightly indifferent about the
possibility of there being any more from the Ogre.
WATCH THE SHREK FOREVER AFTER TRAILER HERE
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Watch a Shrek Forever After Featurette here.
