Shrek 1 and Shrek 2 were classics. Both witty, smart, original, funny and both bringing us endearing characters which we could connect with. Shrek 3 brings back those same characters plus some new additions (namely of the baby kind and Justin Timberlake’s geeky future King Arthur kind) but unfortunately along the way it forgot to bring the rest of it – the wit, the smarts, the originality and the funnies.

The king of Far Far Away, Princess Fiona’s father dies, leaving her and Shrek to rule the kingdom. Shrek thinks he’s not the right man for the job so he sets out to find the last surviving heir, Artie, back to the kingdom. The evil Prince Charming takes this as an opportunity to storm the kingdom, imprison the Princess and lay a trap for Shrek’s downfall. Oh, added to Shrek’s stress level is the fact that he is going to become Father Ogre in the near future. In the mix you have all the fairy tale princesses (Snow White, Cinderalla, Rapunzell, Beauty etc.) and villains (Captain Hook, the evil step sister, Snow White’s step mother, the Wicked Witch of the West etc.)

Shrek 3 had its moments from Donkey trying to pull a Puss in Boots (not even close but funny nevertheless) to the Pinocchio double-talk when he is being interrogated to stop himself telling a lie:

Prince Charming: You! You can’t lie! Where is Shrek?
Pinocchio: Well, uh, I don’t know where he’s not.
Prince Charming: You’re telling me you don’t know where Shrek is?
Pinocchio: Well, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to assume that I couldn’t exactly not say that there he’s is almost partially incorrect.
Prince Charming: So you do know where he is!
Pinocchio: Oh, on the contrary. I’m possibly more or less not definitely rejecting the idea that I undeniably…
Prince Charming: Stop it!
Pinocchio: …do or do not know where he shouldn’t probably be. If that indeed wasn’t where he isn’t!

Classic.

Unfortunately there wasn’t enough of this humour to sustain the entire movie which really felt like it was simply trying way too hard. Although overall I was disappointed with the end result the movie does earn some marks for the cuteness factor with the little dragon/donkey babies who’s presence on screen was far too little. Anyone know where I can get one for my own?