Director: Chris Miller Co-Director: Raman Hui
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake

Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and Puss in Boots are back for a third outing but this time around the laughs are few and the plot is somewhat hazy. The original debuted six years ago and pretty much took every pot shot possible at the studio Walt Disney. The jokes were original and it was a breath of fresh air. Shrek 2 debuted in 2004 and to my surprise was just as amusing and creative as the original (if not better). It went on to become one of the highest domestic grossing films of all times (third only to Titanic and the original Star Wars).

Shrek and Fiona return to Far Far Away because Fiona’s father is dying. Shrek and Donkey have the complex task of finding Arthur, who is next in line to become king. This sets up another journey for Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots and that’s when Shrek 3 is at its best because the chemistry between these characters is dynamic. Donkey and Puss in Boots are still the scene stealers of the movie and you will leave the film wanting more of the side kicks.

I’ve always complimented the Shrek films as the perfect film for children and adults. Kids will love the animation and parents will enjoy the jokes that are -at times- too complex for children to fully grasp them. Shrek the Third was still creative in its own way but it had a hard act to follow trying to top its predecessors (one hates to make the comparison to the Godfather films but that does come to mind.)

In all fairness, Shrek the Third is still a film worth watching because it will probably be one of the best films of the summer. It just falls a bit short when you examine the entire trilogy. Shrek4 will be out in a few years and I’m sure the creative team at Dreamworks will definitely turn out a better film the next time around.

Grade: B