shrek3

In a summer rife with third installments, there’s a lot of competition for audience dollars and “Shrek
the Third” looks poised to take a good hunk of them. Critics are panning it, but when did that ever
stop a crowd-pleaser?

The movie picks up where “Shrek 2” left off, but this time Shrek finds himself forced to run the
kingdom because Fiona’s father has died. However, Prince Charming is still resentful from the
previous film and decides to take the throne by force when Shrek is away looking for the real heir to
the throne.

“Shrek the Third” works for the same reasons the first two installments hooked viewers. The writers
always remember to keep the characters and story going first and pepper the humor into nearly
every moment.

Is the series getting tired? Shrek and Fiona’s story has definitely run its course. There’s no need
for a fourth chapter.

What really gets “Shrek the Third” to a satisfying finish line is the heavy and smart inclusion of
Eddie Murphy’s Donkey and Antonio Banderas’ Puss In Boots, who are always right alongside
Shrek with hilarious asides, one-liners, sight gags and in some cases, songs.

Puss and Donkey even dominate the end credits. Audiences are treated to a duet, more hi-jinks
and dance number by them. Like the previous two installments, Shrek’s name might be in the title,
but it’s really a Donkey show with a special guest star Puss In Boots. If there is a fourth movie, it
should be solely about these characters.

Viewers need to be extra quick in this flick to catch all the references and multi-layered jokes to
classic fairytales. The jokes fly by at a mile a minute. The one disappointing aspect of “Shrek the
Third” is a continual annoyance that plagues all three films: the incessant bathroom humor that at
times detracts from the witty writing.

Fortunately, new, well-developed characters keep the story fresh while old favorites support the
rapidly paced plot. There is nowhere else for Shrek’s story to go after “Shrek the Third.” He’s had a
good run. Let’s hope it ends here, with a bang instead of a disaster.