Shrek Forever After [PG]

Shrek has found his happily ever after, but he’s the only one who can’t see that. Wishing that he could have just one day where people are scared of him again, Shrek makes a deal with Rumplestiltskin. But the deal goes to shambles when Shrek finds himself in a twisted alternate version of Far Far Away, a land where he was never born, had never rescued Fiona, ogres are hunted, and Rumplestiltskin is King. Now it’s up to Shrek to undo what he’s done, but can he do it before the day is over? 

I just missed this at the cinemas, but I heard that it wasn’t all that good. It didn’t get crash hot reviews and, in all honesty, just seeing the trailers did not really grab me. But watching it last night after a hectic, but rewarding day at work, I found that it wasn’t all that bad. It had a decent story, the script was fine, and there were some very clever fairy tale and nursery rhyme references. I mean it definitely wasn’t the best Shrek film, but it wasn’t the worst either. 

Shrek has found his happily ever after, but he’s the only one who can’t see what he’s got. He finds himself missing the days when he was a “real” ogre and people were afraid of him. Wishing that, for one day, he could be a real ogre again, Shrek makes a deal with the devious and cunning Rumplestiltskin. Suddenly Shrek find himself in a twisted alternate reality of Far Far Away, one in which he was never born, ogres are being hunted, he has never met Donkey or Puss, he never rescued Fiona, and Rumplestiltskin is King. Now it’s up to Shrek to undo what he’s done, but he’s only got until sunset to do it. 

Ultimately, I did find this film to be a fun one, good for the family, and filled with clever fairy tale jokes and modern interpretations of famous nursery rhymes. All our favourite characters are back, and even some new ones like Rumplestiltskin and the Pied Piper (who was quite funny). 

Really, since the third one, the Shrek films have been going a little downhill, so the fourth and final one shouldn’t be expected to be something brilliant, but I will say that it wasn’t half bad. It had its moments and gained a few laughs out of me and my brother (most probably because the whole thing was rather close to Back to the Future II). Worth the watch at any rate. 

Featuring the voice talents of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, John Cleese, and Julie Andrews, Shrek Forever After was a fun family movie, good for a lazy afternoon.