Home Video: Shrek the Third

Shrek the Third
Directed by Chris Miller and Raman Hui
Released May 18, 2007

This film supplements a feeling I have been having recently about threequels: a "previously on" segment would be much appreciated. Am I expected to remember the exile of Prince Charming from the first film in 2001 or the second film in 2004? I get the gist of things, but I think even a two-minute recaplet would be invaluably helpful. As far as this third installment goes, it still boasts some entertaining humor and enjoyable characters, yet the daring originality of the first film is somewhat absent. To compensate, all the characters try really hard to be obvious in their parodies of real-life or filmic characters. It becomes a bit much to take sometimes, but all in all it works alright. Eddie Murphy, with some help from Antonio Banderas, is still stealing the show the entire time, which in this case is a terrific thing. The plot is surprisingly effective at times, and altogether unscrupulous. The adult humor infused into the film strays a bit too far sometimes, but in the end, it is bounded enough. I could say I enjoyed; I definitely did not hate it, but I would not rush to see it again anytime soon.

B-

Oscar chances: This film, eligible in the Best Animated Feature category, probably ranks 6th in line, after "Bee Movie", "Persepolis", "Ratatouille", and "The Simpsons Movie", who will be likely be duking it out, and would be eclipsed by "Beowulf" if five nominees ended up in the category.