Shrek the Third: return of beloved characters

There are times when it a pleasure to see the return of beloved characters on the big screen. That's the case with Shrek the Third, that reunites all of our favorite characters from Far Away Land that starred in the previous installments that have made hundreds of millions of dollars around the world.

Shrek and Fiona (Mike Meyers and Cameron Diaz) are a very happy couple as they live in the castle in the land of far, far away. They are surrounded by family and their friends Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas) who are always right beside them whether they're wanted or not.

This quiet perfect world is jolted when Fiona's father, King Frogger (John Cleese), becomes ill and is on his death bed. Before his passing, Frogger tells Shrek he must take his place on the throne unless a suitable replacement in the family is found. Shrek wants no part of being the King and he decides to set out with both Puss and Donkey to locate Cousin Artie to become the next ruler of Far Away Land. In the meantime, the underhanded Prince Charming is plotting revenge on Shrek and wants to destroy him once and for all.

Shrek the Third is a fun and enjoyable movie, and considering this is already the third installment in this franchise, there seems to be still gas in the tank. Usually by the time a third movie in any series is made, the ideas for the most part have dried up. That's not the case here as there are some big laugh-out-loud moments in the film. Myers, Diaz, Murphy and Banderas are all exceptional with their voice work here, as is newcomer Justin Timberlake.

The film moves at a very brisk pace and there is so much going on that it made me want to see it again to pick up on things I might have missed the first time I saw it. The animation is spectacular to say the least, as the movie just leaps off the screen. The music is also terrific, with some great flashback titles that fit perfectly into the movie.

Shrek the Third is fun and it is as enjoyable for the adults as it is for the kids. While it's not as good as the previous films, as sequels go this is a well made movie that will have legs at the box office, and I say let’s see the further adventures in the lives of the wonderful characters.