| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Mike Myers | ... | Shrek (voice) | |
| Eddie Murphy | ... | Donkey (voice) | |
| Cameron Diaz | ... | Princess Fiona (voice) | |
| Antonio Banderas | ... | Puss in Boots (voice) | |
| Julie Andrews | ... | Queen (voice) | |
| John Cleese | ... | King (voice) | |
| Rupert Everett | ... | Prince Charming (voice) | |
| Eric Idle | ... | Merlin (voice) | |
| Justin Timberlake | ... | Artie (voice) | |
| Susanne Blakeslee | ... | Evil Queen (voice) | |
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Cody Cameron | ... | Pinocchio / Three Pigs (voice) |
| Larry King | ... | Doris (voice) | |
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Christopher Knights | ... | Blind Mice / Heckler / Evil Tree #2 / Guard #2 (voice) |
| John Krasinski | ... | Lancelot (voice) | |
| Ian McShane | ... | Captain Hook (voice) | |
When King Harold (John Cleese) of Far, Far Away dies, the clumsy Shrek (Mike Myers) becomes the immediate successor of the throne. However, Shrek decides to find the legitimate heir Artie (Justin Timberlake) in a distant kingdom with his friends Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) to be able return to his beloved house in the swamp with the pregnant Fiona (Cameron Diaz). Meanwhile, the envious and ambitious Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) joins the villains of the fairytales plotting a coup d'état to become the new King. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The "year of the sequels" is on us and I go from sequel to sequel lots things are getting clearer to me, I'm finally coming to grasp with the "all-prevalent and many yet to come" SEQUELS.
Broadly speaking there a 4 kinds of sequels.
1)Based on epics where the story is long with lots of characters and stories, these usually have the problem of too much content and are the easiest to handle. (ex star wars, lotr, matrix?).
2)Based on legendary characters and their adventures, these are somewhat more difficult but can always work by changing the plot every time (ex Indiana Jones,die hard,rush hour, ANACONDA, load of B movies like TREMORS).
3)comic book and video game sequels (self explanatory).
4)Exploitation sequels these are the toughest to handle and are as difficult to understand as the title I've given them.Based on the concept of extracting the maximum from a one off concept the got much bigger than anticipated, the original succeeded on multiple factors (Story, character, plot, concept, big action scene etc) which makes making sequels difficult but still lucrative. (Ex SHREK, potc, SPEED,ice age, JURRASIC PARK (multitype but the 3rd and maybe 4th fit here).
This being an exploitation sequel the movie is quite clear.
1)ONly some characters were developed in the original so way to much extra billing has been given to people that were once only side jokes (the loads of fairytale people).
2)The plot is razor thin and weak and the very base on which the first one was made (spoof of the fairy tales) is now lost.
3)The jokes are getting stale (how many ugly ogre, farting and gingerbread jokes can you have?).
4)They had enough content for 1 movie they pulled of a very good second one, that kind of confidence is not good.
5)Demographics take the front seat, adults, teens, fans, children, blacks, whites, etc etc everyone has been taken into account.
Still this movie has its plus points.
1)The main characters are still hilarious and you have lots of funny moments especially from Donkey and Puss in boots who are the stars of the film.
2)The fatherhood track is really really funny.
3)Chilren really seemed to really enjoy this movie although the demographically pleasing content is clearly unsuitable for children.
4)The movie is short and sweet and really funny in pieces, if a dozen teasers were made they would all be funny.
IT HAS BEEN BROADLY ACCEPTED THAT I HAVE THE MENTAL AGE OF A 12 YR OLD AND ME NOT FINDING THE SPARK IN A MOVIE MADE FOR MY AGE GROUP IS A PROBLEM.
The complete package is ordinary at best except if watched with children which pushes it up-to good or even very good.
Watch only if your a fan OR in a very good mood and "SEQUEL PREPARED".
Keep low expectations and you may just meet or exceed them.
-s typical exploitation sequel, LACKS THE SPARK, many jokes are stale.
+/-s puss in boots and donkey given major billing (i like them).
+s funny in pieces (though not as good as a whole), SUPERB GRAPHICS, short and sweet, VERY GOOD FOR CHILDREN.
total 5/10 ( just fell below expectations (after factoring in sequel), with children and correct company may even reach a 7).
PS ANS TO MY QUESTION HOW MANY GINGERBREAD FARTING ETC JOKES CAN YOU HAVE? NOT ENOUGH APPARENTLY THE 4 TH SHREK IS ON ITS WAY.