Been There Done That

Rating: 3/10 (21 May 2007)

Standing alone this movie holds it's own against the countless other feature-length cartoons we have been treated to recently.
That is the problem -- you cannot view it as a standalone work. The first Shrek is an excellent movie. While the original Shrek bore no resemblance to the original book by William Steig (yeah and who actually knows this was based on a book older than most of the audience). BTW, CDB and CDC are must reads from this author more well known for his work in the New Yorker...
Shrek the Third makes the mistake of believing it's own hype. For most well-loved movie "classics" of our time it is the story that makes the movie. Bringing a good story tells itself regardless of its surrounding. Good animation can enhance a wonderful story, but on it's own it is just disjointed bits hung on a clothesline.
It seems like the original idea was left on the cutting room floor in the mad dash for marketing money.
The collective comedic talent in this movie is astounding. John Cleese and Eric Idle, Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy as well as Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph. You also have John Krasinski and Rupert Everett. While their voices are memorable, this is the least of their abilities. They were given no opportunity to feature their true talents and the movie suffered for it. I was so hoping to see witty barbs and new site gags in the movie (and an actual plot) and was left wanting.
The producers would have served themselves well to break from the usual pattern of actors performing their voice overs alone and allowing the cast to interact, write and improvise ... something most of this cast is well-known for.
Too bad -- it could have been so much more.