A fitting final chapter to the fabled franchise in this never-ending- story!

Rating: 8/10 (24 May 2010)

SHREK FOREVER AFTER (2010) *** (VOICES OF : Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Jon Hamm, John Cleese, Craig Robinson, Walt Dohrn, Jane Lynch, Lake Bell, Kathy Griffin, Mary Kay Place, Kristen Schaal, Meredith Viera, Ryan Seacrest, Larry King, Regis Philbin, Conrad Vernon.) Better-than-anticipated 'final chapter' to the never-ending story of the lovable titular ogre and his brood that finds the not-so-jolly-green-giant in a funk wishing he was living his old days of yore which leads to runty Rumpelstiltskin to enter the picture – with a vendetta – to offer him a wish come true ala "It's A Wonderful Life" with predictable yet entertaining results. Once again Banderas steals the show as Puss In Boots but this time as a fat cat (literally) and Murphy's braying jack-ass Donkey having a field day and chewing the animated scenery. While it wouldn't be terrible if the powers that be do intend to close the nursery rhyme book on this fabled franchise it wouldn't hurt if they had one more verse to throw in for good measure (note: the IMAX 3-D version works yet it is not a must-see by any means in this medium). (Dir: Mike Mitchell)