Shrek Forever After is the fourth installment in the Shrek franchise. When I heard about a fourth movie I was not really sure how I felt about it. I did not know where they could take the story this time around without it feeling redundant in comparison to the previous story lines. This time around Shrek ends up being pitted against Rumpelstiltskin. Shrek is struggling this time with everything in his life and finally feels like the ogre in him has been pacified to the point in which he is no longer viewed to be scary. So in steps Rumpelstiltskin who unknown to Shrek was set to make a deal with Fiona's parents before she was released from the tower. Rumpelstiltskin offer Shrek one free day away from all of his responsibilities in return just simply one day from his past will no longer exist. After losing the day Shrek met Fiona, Shrek must go about trying to win Fiona's love and help her remember her love for him. With this storey I definitely thought it was one that could work pretty well.
The main actors from the previous three Shrek films lend their voices once again. Mike Myers as the role of Shrek is exactly what he has been in the past three Shrek movies. Myers brought the comedic moments once again, but I would have loved to have seen more comedy from Shrek's character. Walt Dohrn lends his voice for the role of Rumpelstiltskin. Keeping up with another great villain for Shrek to go against, he gave a great performance that puts Rumpelstiltskin right up there neck and neck with Lithgow's performance as Lord Farquaad in the first Shrek movie. I think Rumpelstiltskin is one of the lesser known fairy tales, and I think his portrayal here in ShrekfForever After is perfect. His villainous ways in this movie brings an absolute hatred for Rumpelstiltskin and what he has done to Far Far Away. The other returning characters are just as funny as they have been in the previous installments. The new supporting characters that were introduced this time around did a good job and interacted well with the others. The main three witches do a great job and were well though out in such a way that they served perfect roles as Rumpelstiltskin's minions. I would have loved to have had them write more interactions with the witches.
The plot and storyline for Shrek Forever After is surprisingly good. With this being the fourth installment it is definitely not an easy task for the story to not be so similar as the previous that it is boring and makes the viewer feel like they have already seen this Shrek movie. While there are similar plot elements or themes that have been across all the Shrek films the writers have done a good job at keeping it feeling like it is refreshed and new idea. One of the themes is that of Shrek struggling with his own identity. I liked that they used this identity struggle as the primary plot point that leads to Rumpelstiltskin being able to trick Shrek into losing the most important day in his life and to gain the power that Shrek robbed from him. One of the other great aspects they have been able to do very successfully through all the Shrek films has been the integration of current pop culture references in with a fairy tale type story.
Shrek Forever After exceeded the expectations I had for this movie going into it. They were able to bring a story that was not boring or seemed like the same story as before. I thought Rumpelstiltskin was the perfect villain for the final installment. With the fourth I was not sure if I would find it funny, but Myers and company brought strong one liners and really did a great job at integrating pop culture references into this fairy tale story. I am giving Shrek Forever After three buckets of popcorn out of five. Shrek Forever After is a movie that is worth renting.
-The Movie Man
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