What is there really to say about Shrek Forever After? It’s a movie that merely follows on from what’s gone before, continuing the slide into ever safer and more merchandising friendly territory. It never rises particularly high, but thankfully never descends into the tedium of Shrek 3 either.
The film tries to give a conclusory note to the franchise, while still keeping the door cracked open for the possibility of a return (not that they’re really ending things anyway, as a Puss In Boot movie is coming next year). The magical Rumpelstiltskin, who feels he was robbed of the throne of Far Far Away when Shrek rescued Princess Fiona in the first film, vows revenge and sets out to find a way to get rid of the big green one. He overhears Shrek bemoaning the fact that he doesn’t feel like a real ogre anymore and that he hates his newfound celebrity. Realising this may be a way to make his dream come true, Rumpelstiltskin offers Shrek a day to feel like a true ogre again, in exchange for a day from Shrek’s childhood.
Although uncertain, Shrek agrees and signs the contract, suddenly finding himself thrust into a world where he’s feared and loathed, there are wanted signs up for him and none of his friends recognise him. Searching out Rumpelstiltskin, Shrek discovers that the day he traded away was the day he was born, and because of he never existed, Fiona was never rescued and Rumpelstiltskin became king of Far Far Away. Not only that, but the contract only gives Shrek one day to be a real ogre, and after that he’ll be erased from existence. With the clock ticking, Shrek must find a way to stop this from happening and put things right again.
Although the It’s A Wonderful Life inspired, ‘what if none of what we’ve seen ever happened’, conceit is a bit of a cheesy one, it works decently well. There’s are quite a few funny moments (including a couple of corkers), it looks great and as with Hot To Train Your Dragon, the 3D works surprisingly well – not too in your face but it doesn’t feel tacked on either. It also runs at quite a pace, so there’s no chance of you getting bored, even while it’s difficult not to feel like despite everyone’s best effort, they’re trying to squeeze the last few ounces of entertainment out of a concept that was driven up a cul de sac by the first two sequels. The alternate world idea does add a few extra dimensions that stop it feeling as creatively barren as Shrek 3, with the script subtly altering all the characters and events to take into account the lack of Shrek.
Ultimately though, they’ve very carefully stuck to the Shrek sequels script, making a safe film that should keep fans passably happy, while those who gave up on the franchise by part 3 will likely still be pining for the freshness, energy and slightly devil-may-care subversiveness of the first film.
However the film is really designed for families, and they should lap it up, enjoying the jokes and the whizz-bang 3D effects. There’s nothing parents will find offensive for their and everything comes with a nice (if rather obvious) moral.
Overall Verdict: It may not be Shrek going out in triumphant fashion, but it’ll do, and to be honest, with the way the franchise has gone, this is a nice way and often funny way to end.
Reviewer: Phil Caine