A pretty good supposed end to a mostly amazing series

Rating: 7/10 (31 January 2020)

As a lover of the first 2 films, I didn't know if I was ready for another disappointment like the third, since it was very forgettable and sloppy. I didn't hate it, as there were good things about it, but ultimately, it was a massive letdown in the grand scheme of things. Even as a kid, I knew some crucial things were missing. So, you can imagine my fear for this film and my almost as big surprise after the credits rolled. This movie finally gets the series back on track, and while it's far from a classic like the first 2, it retained a decent number of magic that the third simply had little of. For one, the villain wasn't lazy. In fact, Rumpelstiltskin is just awesome, as he's not only funny, but well written with the narrative. The premise behind this movie is pretty interesting, too. It's essentially another take on the story used in "It's A Wonderful Life", but, of course, with some twists like meeting a whole other colony of ogres. The humor, overall, is pretty good. I wouldn't say I was ever busting a gut, but I was chuckling more than I was with the third film. Overall, this film is a massive step in the right direction. With that said, though, this still isn't a great movie, as it does falter hard with a few things. For one, the pacing and buildup is a bit sloppy. I never really felt like anything really transitioned that well, which makes the film feel uneven at times. Also, this movie is predictable as all hell. It takes plot elements from the first 2 movies, and while that's not a terrible thing on its own, the lack of any big pizzazz to the story structure can lead to little surprises, which is a bit disappointing. So yeah. It's a bit harder to digest than the first 2 films, but it shows the studio learning from some of their mistakes from the third one, even if they haven't learned them all quite yet. It's a pretty good, but not great supposed end to a mostly amazing series. Recommended if you want a somewhat fun ride with the characters you love from the movies. If your standards have been lowered from the third, you may be pleasantly surprised here, as I was.