cute but lacking substance

Rating: 6/10 (24 November 2007)

Some cute jokes and set ups, but definitely NOT the "best Shrek yet". I am beginning to think that the more a movie is hyped the more likely it is covering up for something missing. In this case the plot was a single strand with no twists or turns that ended up just the way you think it will; unlike One and Two where we were kept guessing with a surprise in the last 5 minutes of each movie. This movie climaxes with a "believe in yourself" speech that could have been copied from any kid's movie from the past 50 years. Donkey and Puss had no real role in the plot- just hanging out. In the previous 2 movies we saw Shrek and Fiona's relationship be tested and grow stronger- they barely talk to each other in this one. And all the clever little Fairy Tale innovations of Shrek's world that delighted us in One and Two- nothing new in Three at all. It was more like a formula Disney movie than a Mike Meyers creation. Oh well, still fun to watch. My 9 year old really liked it. But when I hit the DVD collection to watch a fave- it will be Shrek one or two- not the Third.