Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageShrek the Third (2007)
Director: Chris Miller, Raman Hui
Synopsis
When Shrek’s new father-in-law falls ill, the green ogre is looked at as the new heir to the throne, a role he he not too keen on.
Movie review
From Time Out London
As with many film franchises, you could string together all three of these money-spinners and not notice the joins. The trouble with this third instalment, though, is that a) its Arthurian premise is dispiritingly conventional and b) the pop culture references are starting to wear thin.‘Shrek the Third’ centres on hammy wannabe actor Prince Charming (voice of Rupert Everett) who, it turns out, isn’t that charming after all. In fact he’s a spoiled egomaniac who loves himself more than his heckling audiences do. When Charmless finds out that the dying King Harold (John Cleese) has asked his ogre of a son-in-law, Shrek to seek out his natural successor (a distant nephew called Arthur Pendragon), he seizes the opportunity to organise an ego-boosting coup against the meek civilians of Far Far Away. With Shrek (Mike Myers) and his wise-cracking sidekick Donkey (Eddie Murphy) away in search of the new king, it’s left to the loveable ogre’s beloved wife Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and her bevy of fairytale femme fatales to kick a few butts into touch. But that’s not all, there’s a sub-plot boiling away in Shrek’s mind and it involves babies…
Despite a number of protracted moments, a few scenes are truly inspired: the dying-frog sequence for one, and Shrek’s ‘Exorcist’-inspired nightmare about parenthood for another. Some jokes sail close to innuendo, but in the main they’re balanced enough to appeal to all ages. The CG animation, too, is as refined as we’ve come to expect. Just a shame it lacks the smart sassiness of its predecessors. Time to call time, we think.
Author: Derek Adams
Time Out London Issue 1923: June 27-July July 3 2007
User reviews of this film
-
- Shrek said...
- Posted on Jul 12 2007 11:43 Brill but don't think I'll bother seeing it.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Kay said...
- Posted on Jul 11 2007 17:24 I hope it is as good as the frst two. Am seeing it toniht and I can't wait Have been waiting for ages to see it. love the first two, lets hope this one lives up to them.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Monster said...
- Posted on Jul 11 2007 15:55 Not as good as Shrek I and Shrek II, kids were getting fidgety half way through and I was bored silly. The best bit was at the end with the triplets running riot. My daughter loved it though and it is for kids after all and I'm an adult !!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Minnie Phillips said...
-
Posted on Jul 11 2007 10:23
I can't wait to see this with my two best friends.
They are the best people you could EVER meet but should be shot!!!xx - Report as inappropriate
-
- zoe said...
- Posted on Jul 10 2007 10:19 it was funny. BEST OF OF THE 3! i loved it
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Izhar said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2007 23:40 The film story and character representation especially from other fairy tales are not properly place nor justified, especially is the magic part was really not enough. It seems that this film is made in a real hurry. Well over all it no way in close proximity to the previous two parts. Any one disagrees?
- Report as inappropriate
-
- moe said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2007 19:03 Loved the first two third was crap, they should have stopped at two.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- mark said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2007 18:34 i think this film is excellent, and brillant and laugh that much it was so funny i back see this again and again it top class and great for money
- Report as inappropriate
-
- honey-bee said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2007 15:14 Brilliant film, really funny and just as good as the first 2!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- ??? said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2007 12:25 rubbish other two were well better
- Report as inappropriate
-
- maha said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2007 11:55 MAHA!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- sarah said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2007 11:53 I havent seen the third one but I am going to see it today. I hope its as good as the last 2!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- NiCOL-4 said...
-
Posted on Jul 07 2007 18:15
5HR3K W45 GR34T iNF4CT IM 533iN iT 4G4iN TOMMOROW B3C4U53 iT W45 5O GOOD
GO TOO www.NiCOL-4.piczo.com - Report as inappropriate
-
- kaz said...
- Posted on Jul 07 2007 16:21 this film was well fab!!!!!!!!!!!!1
- Report as inappropriate
-
- BOBBY BROWN said...
- Posted on Jul 07 2007 12:32 I have not seen it yet but I think it is a great film because I have seen it actually, I think. Let me just take my pills and in about half an hour I will remember... I think.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Chris Miller, Raman Hui
Producer: Aron Warner
Genre(s): Children's, Comedy
Rated: U
Duration: 93 mins
UK Release: Jun 29 2007
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Time Out's 101 Films of the Decade
Ten years, thousands of movies and millions of dollars in international box office, and it all boils down to this
Martin Provost discusses 'Séraphine'
Trevor Johnston talks to the director of 'Séraphine' about bringing a little known French painter back to life
Our verdict on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones
Peter Jackson ends a triumphant decade with a sentimental misfire with this lush Alice Sebold adaptation
On the set of Ken Loach's 'Route Irish'
Dave Calhoun meets Ken Loach on the set of his forthcoming Iraq war movie
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now