Shrek the Third

Description

1. Introduction / About the Movie Released in 2007, Shrek the Third brings audiences back to the highly satirical, pop-culture-infused Kingdom of Far Far Away. Directed by Chris Miller, this third chapter in the phenomenally successful DreamWorks Animation franchise takes a comedic look at the anxieties of impending fatherhood and the heavy burden of royal responsibility. While the film continues the tradition of mocking fairy tale tropes, it introduces fresh faces from Arthurian legend into the mix. It serves as an entertaining and lighthearted Hollywood English animated feature that keeps the beloved characters moving forward in their crazy lives. 2. Movie Storyline (Plot Summary) Life is suddenly getting far too serious for Shrek. When Fiona’s father, King Harold, suddenly passes away, Shrek is horrified to learn that he is next in line to inherit the throne of Far Far Away. Deeply terrified of ruling a kingdom and even more terrified of Fiona’s revelation that she is pregnant, Shrek refuses the crown. He learns of only one other viable heir: Fiona’s teenage cousin, Arthur (Artie). Desperate to return to his swamp, Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots set sail on a quest to find the rebellious high schooler and convince him to become king. Meanwhile, back in the kingdom, the vain and bitter Prince Charming seizes the opportunity. Gathering a massive army of fairy tale villains who are tired of losing, Charming launches a violent coup to take the throne by force. Fiona, alongside her mother and a fierce team of fairy tale princesses, must stage an underground resistance to protect the kingdom until Shrek returns. 3. Cast and Characters The iconic central trio of Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey), and Cameron Diaz (Fiona) return with their reliable comedic chemistry. Antonio Banderas is back as Puss in Boots. A major addition to the cast is pop superstar Justin Timberlake, who voices the insecure, bullied teenager Artie. Rupert Everett returns as the delightfully pompous villain Prince Charming, while Eric Idle joins as the eccentric wizard Merlin. 4. Movie Highlights A standout element of this sequel is the hilarious "Princess Team-Up" sequence. Seeing traditionally delicate characters like Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty abandon their damsel-in-distress personas to become fierce, martial-arts-fighting warriors is incredibly funny. Additionally, the magical mix-up that results in Donkey and Puss in Boots temporarily switching bodies provides excellent physical and vocal comedy. 5. Why You Should Watch This Movie You should watch Shrek the Third to see how the story of the world's most famous ogre continues to unfold. It offers a very humorous take on the legend of King Arthur, gives the female characters a fantastic chance to shine in action scenes, and provides plenty of the franchise's signature slapstick humor and musical montages.