By the end of Shrek 2, we had just about enough of that franchise’s snarky pop-culture references to do us a lifetime. Sadly, Shrek The Third picks up where its predecessor left off, in a quagmire of random “ye olde” gags. Look here, it’s a medieval high-school where the jocks joust and the maidens say “thou suckest”. Look there, it’s a bitchy coffee morning group with Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. Hmm. We need to work a lot harder guys.
As we open, John Cleese’s frog king is on his deathbed leaving Shrek to inherit the throne unless a suitable substitute can be found. Already freaked by the prospect of assuming the crown, Princess Fiona compounds matters by announcing that she’s pregnant. That’s right, folks, it’s another American movie about RESPONSIBILITY.
To be fair, there are enough decent jokes to keep you in your seat throughout the short running time. Justin Timberlake once again proves his movie worth as the patsy prince Shrek tracks down to weasel out of kingly duties. And younger kids will surely thrill to the spectacle of Shrek triplets.
Still, there’s enough of a dip in quality to make you fearful for Shrek 4 and Shrek 5. They’re both in the works you know. M’eh.