A long weekend and 2 kids means I’m going to see Shrek. Not too bad but it wasn’t very funny. – Will
Shrek makes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin to be an ogre for a day in exchange for one day of Shrek’s life. Rumpelstiltskin picks the day Shrek was born and it changes the world.
Directed by – Mike Mitchell
Written by – Josh Klausner, Darren Lemke
Starring – Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Jon Hamm, John Cleese, Craig Robinson, Walt Dohrn, Jane Lynch, Lake Bell, Kathy Griffin, Mary Kay Place, Kristen Schaal, Meredith Vieira
It was unavoidable. I’ve got 2 kids and they were home for the long weekend. I knew I would end up in the theater watching Shrek. I was looking forward to it actually. Shrek was a good flick and even though I have never seen the third one I figured that the fourth one would be alright. That’s exactly what it wound up being, just alright. It wasn’t very funny and even though the audience was full of little kids, nobody was really laughing. Usually it’s just me that isn’t laughing because I have a heart of coal or something! This flick was pretty serious though and the mood of most of the movie was kind of down. Not at all what I was expecting.
As an animated kids flick it probably succeeds. The kids enjoyed it enough, although nobody was screaming about it all the way home, and the 3D was fun but it was lacking that subtle touch of comedy for adults that I like in my movies. I think I got more laughs from the Toy Story 3 trailer than I did from this movie. I wasn’t looking forward to watching Shrek, the character I mean. I don’t really like Shrek at all. It’s all the other characters that I like seeing. Puss, the Gingerbread Man, Donkey (although he can be a little annoying at times) and those were the highlights of the movie for me but, aside from Donkey obviously, they just weren’t in the movie enough.
When Rumpelstiltskin takes one day of Shrek's life from him, he picks his birth. This means that Shrek never saved the day and Far, Far Away belongs to the bad guys.
It’s too bad those characters weren’t around enough because the Gingerbread Man was hilarious. With Far, Far Away being ruled by Rumpelstiltskin the place is in shambles. This leaves the typically happy characters of the Shrek world in less than perfect times. We find the Gingerbread Man fighting animal crackers as citizens bet on whether he’ll survive. It was freaking hilarious and I wish he had been in the movie more. Shrek spends most of the movie being all whiny and emo trying to win the love of Fiona again. It just wasn’t a very happy film. Of course it has a happy ending, what movie doesn’t really, but the majority of the time is these tear-jerker moments punctuated every so often by a second of comedy that never seemed to hit the mark.
All Shrek wanted was to be a scary ogre for a day again.
As the trend of 3D continues, this one works well with it. There’s a lot of characters flying around which usually looks impressive in 3D and that part was fun. I’m still sticking to my guns that 3D should only be used in animated movies. It’s the only time it really works well and it is certainly the only time I’ll support it. That’s probably a lot of the lure for a movie like this. It wasn’t really that great a movie but it tops the box office. Start on a long weekend, good idea. Be in 3D, good idea. Take your kids to it, I’m not sure that’s a great idea. I’m probably being hard on it but I just didn’t really enjoy it. I also didn’t see the third Shrek so maybe it’s been on the downswing for a while now and I didn’t realize it.
In the end it kept the kids quiet for a little and didn’t make me want to tear my eyes from my head like Diary of a Wimpy Kid did so it wins there. I just wish the kids would have waited for Toy Story 3 instead of wanting to see this one.
Under the marquee – Will
I’ve always wished the Gingerbread man got his own spin off, he was always the best part of the movies for me. Although there is no chance of me seeing this in theaters I did see the previous one in theaters and I rememered I enjoyed it. This will be a rental for sure, just wish, based on your review, that it could have been funnier. Nice banner for this flick btw. Your site is getting more customized than mine nowadays
I would watch an entire movie of the Gingerbread man, that would be awesome. Especially if he was the trained killer that he is in this flick! HAHA! I’m surprised that it wasn’t more funny. The theater was pretty silent most of the time except for that kid behind me that kept asking his mom question after question. “What’s happening to Shrek?” “Where’s everyone going?” “How come Donkey is running away?” Freaking kids!
Still gotta work on my Photoshop skills but a custom header for every post is a nice way to practice. I’m planning on taking that Lammy for best design next year! HAHA!
I’m with Cello, the Gingerbread man was my favorite, and all the supporting characters. I never even really liked Fiona.
I’ll be seeing it regardless for the same reasons you stated above but I’m surely NOT looking forward to it. I’ll try to keep an open mind but we usually like the same movies in this genre and if you didn’t dig it, I may be in for POO!
Hey, did you decided on your Sci-Fi movie yet?
Was the third Shrek boring or something because I kinda feel ripped off. This movie seemed so sad all the time with Shrek trying so hard to win Fiona’s love again and him being mopey the whole time!
It wasn’t terrible but I was really expecting a funny flick and didn’t get it. At first I thought it was just me but both my kids didn’t laugh either. Maybe they should have stopped before this one.
I sent you a message about those Sci-Fi flicks Heather. I’m having trouble picking one now though so let me know what you think about the few that I sent to you.
oooh, what sci-fi flick? I want in.
Talk to Heather over at Movie Mobsters. She’ll let you in on all the good stuff going on. They’re looking for other blogs to participate in monthly blog sessions covering different genres of film. I think that sums it up pretty well…..I think!