Movie Review: Shrek the Third

Bringing back the beloved, convivial green ogre, "Shrek The Third" neatly concludes the supremely entertaining trilogy. Introducing a slew of new twists on classic storybook characters, and a multitude of priceless pop culture references, this film proves that the third time's a charm. Unbelievably realistic animation, running gags and spoofs of popular movies along with a brilliantly upbeat soundtrack ensure this crowd-pleaser will delight the whole family. And the Gingerbread Man never gets old.

Shrek and Princess Fiona are planning to go back to the comforts of their swamp when all of a sudden the frog King (John Cleese) croaks. Forced to either assume the throne or track down the last remaining heir, a boy named Arthur, Shrek, Donkey and Puss in Boots embark on a mission to locate the young hopeful. Meanwhile the unscrupulous Prince Charming amasses a group of dastardly storybook villains to take over the land of Far Far Away. Fiona must gather her princess friends including Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty to save their overthrown kingdom. Will Shrek bring back the next heir? Will Fiona rescue her people? Will there be a Shrek 4?

For the third installment of the Shrek franchise, the distinctive characters really drive the plot. Almost a direct sequel to Shrek 2, the story picks up shortly after, employs most of the same personae, and revolves around a comparable plotline and the same villain, Prince Charming. Despite the story's familiarity, the grand assortment of characters is still entertaining to watch. Puss in Boots returns, and although he mainly reuses his best gags, including the wide-eyed begging glare, Antonio Banderas and the ingenious script ensure that he steals every scene he's in. Donkey is his usual annoying self, although here he's been toned down since the second film. And of course the Gingerbread Man is back, who is so risible that he deserves his own spin-off so we can enjoy his undoubtedly psychedelic solo adventures.