Not as good as the others ... but when is that ever the case?

Rating: 7/10 (12 August 2007)

Shrek, Princess Fiona, Donkey and Puss in Boots are such common words among children they are starting to learn them before mummy and daddy. Now if a franchise is that popular, world wide acclaim, rocketing DVD sales, Academy Awards, they have a serious lot to live up to. Shrek the Third was DreamWorks's challenge. Shrek and Fiona are living a perfectly peaceful life spending a week filling in for the king, with obvious disasters while the Toad King is sick. But the Toad King is not only sick, he is on his death bed. Shrek is the next in line for the throne and is not ready to undertake this burden so he fares off with Donkey and Puss in Boots to find Arthur (or Artie) the only other heir to the throne. Fiona is getting ready to bring some more ogres into the world while Shrek is not sure if he would make a good father. Prince Charming meanwhile believes he is the rightful heir to the throne and plans to turn Far Far Away Land on its head to get his way. The entire original cast returns for this funnier than average animated film. Eddie Murphy rants and raves to create an ever likable donkey, Mike Myers finds the grumpy side of Shrek and Rupert Everett and Antonio Banderas are good as always. Minor characters Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man and the Three Little Pigs provide the best moments as always. Justin Timberlake also brings his vocal, um, talents to the unpopular Artie. The wizard Merlin does though become a bit grinding at times. Animation gets better ever Shrek and this is no exception. This is a kids movie with more than a few adult references but the kids will enjoy this one. Not as good as the first two, but really when does the third ever surpass the previous two.