Shrek The Third (2007)

Shrek The Third.

It's sure is a movie but honestly 9/10 everyone says it's the weakest Shrek movie and the one barely anyone remembers. Like yeah, it's the worst but nobody really takes their time to explain why it's the worst.

What is the Philosophy of Shrek?: Before I do my mild rant, it's best to establish the key parts why is Shrek so beloved. I mean yeah it's the comedy but as well the musical and drama. These three are the most important parts:

1. Witty sense of humour

2. Catchy Musical

3. Compelling Drama

(keep that in mind)

I also must talk about the plot, so in a summary Shrek is feared to be the next king and having children but king Harold (before he died) says you must go on this quest to sail at the morning to find a random teen name Arthur to be the next king of Far Far Away and soon be one after Prince Charming is dethrone again.

Leonard:"So what about the plot first?"

Glad you ask, like let's really think about it. What I just said is the entire plotline, the concept feels like a long-gated Tv Special. It's just Shrek going to find Arthur and become a dad.

It's like Shrek 2 again but less, like the world building in Shrek 2 is so much more memorable is because it's parody of Hollywood with the little details and even more that the montage where Shrek, Fioana and Donkey go to different areas with the gag the sign saying over 1000 miles Away. Thus it's called Far Far Away because it's far, far, away from Shrek's home. They also included other ladmarks like Fairy Godmother's Factory, the forest and the random shed. It makes the world more open, it's not just they in Far far Away for the whole movie.

But in Shrek the Third, the only world building they did is just a collage and that's it. Just a random collage that is never brought up in Shrek 2 and it just comes out of no where, it just exist now.

I also want to highlight Shrek's Fear, in Shrek 2 we relate to Shrek is because he thinks people of Far Far Away wouldn't accept him and the book seen with the word "Mrs Fiona Charming" as like she is whispering Shrek's ear as the words taunted him, it's really unnerving as this movie takes he's fears very seriously.

So what did Shrek the Third got going for him, he fears of a baby Orger. Now I don't think that is a bad concept actually, I think it's understandable (as I get to later on the good parts) but the movie made the nightmare scene comedic when they should takes it serriously, I don't get why do the movie thinks it's funny. They also forced of having a father and son with Shrek and Arthur but the movie tries to compare it but babies and teens are not the same.

What's the comparasion here? Like what where the writers doing-

Oh wait they where on smoking in the script:

Guy:"For lo, bro, don't burn all my frankincense and myrrh."

So anyways, there's the one scene Shrek tells off Arthur you stupid, dumb animal, Arthur leaves and Charming says this:

Charming:"You really do have a way with children Shrek."

Huh?!

Like what's the point the movie is trying to make here? Children and teens are not the same thing. Like I don't look at Arthur and don't inmediately think: "Child". He is not a child you stupid screen write- I mean Charming!

Which brings us to Prince Charming. Now I think the concept is neat, Charming sworn revenage of Shrek for he's mother. While I do think the opening scene where Charming gets dunked on in a musical by he's own people is good but after that he become an spoiled brat for the rest of the movie. Yeah Lord Farquaad is spoiled but what makes him comepelling is that he serve a threat to Shrek and Fiona's romance. Charming did do the same thing but that was controlled by Fairy God Mother and Charming works as a side character.

But when he's the main character, it falls a little flat but the ending, is unbearable. He's idea is to make a musical about him killing Shrek on stage but he never thought nobody cares for him but everyone cares for Shrek, like the guy with the letter E.

Like the climax feels underwhelming, compare to Shrek 2 climax where Shrek sits with Mongo as he tries to stop Charming to kiss Fiona as he's time is running. That is an epic action pack movie, here it's tame. Not to mention all the villains just comes in but Arthur comes in like he's the next Jesus and convince every villain that they don't have to be evil. Not a few, conveniently all of them except for Charming. I don't think redeming characters is a bad thing but this is idiotic here.

If was to fix Charming. he wold be the second character and main character is none other then my boy Rumpelstiltskin! Like he's right here, in front of you (huge mis-potential)! like this can be fixed so easy.

No comedy and NO MUSIC!: Remember what I said about the three most important elements. So okay the drama is not good, surely the humour and music is good-

NO. It's bad, it's very, very bad if not embarassing. Like this movie's "joke" is an interesting all kinds of forced. okay not every joke is bad, I can't be mad at Doris and I do think the opening scene is okay. For 5mins! Because it takes a comeplete nose dive and all of them are on the nose.

The problem is the comedic timming and the tones palce in the wrong way. Why is Harold's death funny? He's a key important character to Far Far Away and not mention he's character arc in Shrek 2, it an a slap in the face to the audience and it's pretty tasteless. I also find it odd the Bar scene where Charming convince the villains but it's taking it's self seriously?

Sure in Shrek 2 the Posion Apple establish it's a dangerous place where the villains go but there are small little gags sprinkle in.

Also this movie wants to get the kids attention making jokes of burps or doo. Yeah in the previous Shrek movies they burp and fart but those jokes have a purpose, these meant to an orger and they are smelly monsters. Like when Shrek and Fiona bond because Fiona burp to Harold being disgusted to Shrek even more.

But Shrek the Third need to includ to appeal to kids by making potty humour every time.

Then there's Merlin aka Eric Idel, he's kind of annoying and serve no purpose in the movie despite Eric's best efforts. Same with the princess', the movie treated them as a joke and more flannerised versions to the book counter part. Like feel bad for Amy Sedaris, Maya Rudolph andAmy Phoeler with such a awful script with wasted talent.

Like Shrek says this in a collage mascot:

Shrek:" That's right! I'm the new mascot, so let's really try, beat the other guys, at whatever it is, they are doing!"

(music play in the background)

See what I mean, it's just he movie have nothing humourous-

Wait, play it again.

(All star music)

Oh my lord the band are playing (as the script says) "Rock Star", you know what. I'll take that back. I'll take back all the critism I said. THIS IS THE GREATEST MOVIE PERIOD!

So that's everything I got to say-

Leonard:"Um Matthew, your not done yet, Music!"

Huh, oh yeah your right. Leonard you get a star, a sticker star for trying to say something.

Leonard:"Nice!"

So the music is forgettable, there's no other word to put it unless the only song I think is romotely good is Royal Pain as Eels did I need some Sleep is very fitting as it fits the thematic purpose of Shrek is in Pain of being Royal. It's such a shame the scene is unfunny and Shrek murders a man, like that's funny. That's funny, let's lose our sense of humour.

There also Leave and left Die is nails on a chalk board, again it dosen't fit the context of Harold's death and it's a James Bond song. Like, is it because it has Die in it?

Ever other song is so forgettable and they reprise the score from other Shrek movies, that's lame. The Shrek movies do makes pop culture songs but they fit in the context well and none no of them are forced and again all have a thematic purpose but the song when Snow White do this terrible annoying screaming and then they changed the music? Do you not know what a musical is!

The Good parts: Now, I want to point the scene where Arthur (as we barely get to know about for 2mins) sitting the fire of mystery where Arthur explain that the dad bird left the baby bird and the baby bird falls down. The baby bird is Arthur, as Shrek talks about his dad and so did Arthur in a heart to heart conversation, then Shrek says this:

Shrek:"You knwo, it maybe hard to believe with my obvious charm and good looks, but people think I was a monster. For a long time, I believe them. But after a while, you learn to ignore the names people call you and, you trust who you are."

That is shockingly the most touching lines out of any of the movies, its very in character to Shrek to at this point accept his identy and tells you how much he is grown as a person and using his self worth to comfort Arthur as he struggle to find his own self worth is remarkable. In a werid way it makes the rest of the 1 hour 30mins movie worse. But the movie didn't seem to put the pieces in an satisfying way.

Closing Thoughts: Okay. So what is the point of this review?

Why did I go out of my way to critique this movie so much?

That is because of what came after. The worst thing you can ever do to your franchise is make one slip into the cracks and that is enough to make it a joke. This happens to many franchises like Cars, Star Wars and now Shrek. This one movie marks the point where Shrek has become a childrens brand, what follow this movie is shorts, merch and another movie (Puss in Boots Spin-offs as I count them their own thing).

I made the review on this movie to compare Kung Fu Panda 4.

For a period of time, I asked myself:"Which movie do I rather watch? Kung Fu Panda 4 or Shrek the Third?"

Both of these movies I personally don't like and both are sequels from a franchise I love. After a few considerations.

I'll rather watch Kung Fu Panda 4. At least this movie is pick up as a sore thumb and the worst film by the fans and the franchise wasn't treated as a joke.

But Shrek the Third meanwhile IS a joke. If this movie is above average, just okay or simply stop here then the series will still be view as the excellent animated series. Like Kung Fu Panda or How to Train Your Dragon, this movies has an idea and something going on. Its like another chapter.

Shrek, has no plans, it has a comepletely different writting and the director Andrew Anderson couldn't hold up because he's own film Chronicles of Narnia.

Not a single screen writer came back and it shows. It has nothing interesting to offer, its a boring, frustrating, forgettable experience and the movie knows it. It lost everything what makes the movies compelling in the first place that no matter what the world says about you, you always deserve a happy ending.

Before a time before the memes, Shrek was a respect franchise in the world of animation. Not only that movie won the Oscars for best animated film in the first ever Nominees but also best adapted screen play. Yes the Accedemy Motion Pitcures deem Shrek for the five best scripts of 2001. That is insane for an animated movie, after that Shrek 2 (used to be) the highest grossing movie of 2004. Now highest grossing dosen't always means its good but the point is the franchise tells how impactful to the world.

Shrek the Third fails to be the funny cleaver work of art and it's truly noteable this is the only movie opens with no book introduction.

This movie is stuck to the shadows of their cleaver cousins. It's the odd-ball. This movie is nothing.

So that's everything I got to say.

If only there's another Shrek movie to fill in the gaps. Oh wait Shrek Forever After exist.

I guess I have unfinshed buisness to do!