“Shrek Forever After”

PG for strong language and mild cartoon violence.

“Shrek Forever After” is “It’s a Wonderful Life” but with the familiar and beloved Shrek characters and, in many theaters, in 3D. Clearly, the Shrek franchise was getting a little tired and frayed. “Shrek Forever After” is hardly fresh, how can it be? But that doesn’t mean it is a waste of time.

The use of 3D made it interesting and visually attractive. If I had seen it in 2D, I probably would have thought the film a tad tiresome.

Being an homage to “It’s a Wonderful Life” makes “Shrek Forever After” intriguing, especially for those of us who think it (It’s a Wonderful Life) is one of the greatest films ever made. That would include me.

Need I remind my readers that George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) wished he had never been born? And then got to see what life would have been had he not been born? That should give you a hint of the plotline to this Shrek version.

There are plenty of pop culture references and wink-wink jokes; enough to keep us chuckling and occasionally laughing out loud, but it isn’t the kind of sequel I will remember with immense fondness or recommend with high praise.

Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers), in “Shrek Forever After,” is suffering from a mid-life crisis. The pressure and monotony of marriage and parenthood bring about a rash wish that he (Shrek) could go back to the time of being an ogre feared by the villagers rather than the pestered celebrity he has become.

Shrek makes a deal with the film’s villain Rumpelstiltskin. He can become the ogre he once was for a day if he would give up just one day of his youth. The trickster, “Stiltskin” chooses to take the day of his birth in exchange. This means, after his day of ogrehood, he will disappear…since heeds never was born. And his home, Far, Far Away, will be Shrekless.

Let me pause here and wonder about movie stars who might wish they would not be mobbed by fans (and paparazzi) whenever going for an “anonymous” run to the Quickie Mart for Hostess Snowballs and chocolate milk. I also think about middle aged men who leave their families to return to wild and crazy bachelorhood only to realize that an exciting night for them is watching “Girls Gone Wild” videos while eating Hostess Snowballs and chocolate milk. Shrek has something to teach them, I think.

In “Shrek Forever After,” I particularly enjoyed Puss in Boots’ (voiced by Antonio Banderas) predicament had Shrek “never been.” He is an overweight, gone-to-seed, cat wearing a sissy ribbon. On the other hand, I think the writers wasted Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy). His character, usually hilarious, is rather limp. His best moment comes when in dialog with Puss in Boots, perhaps because Puss in Boots is so interesting.

However, Rumpelstiltskin (voiced by Walt Dohrn) is the star of the film. His character is a delightful mixture of wickedness and pixie naughtiness; as if Cruella De Vil and Pee Wee Herman had had a child.

This is supposed to be the final Shrek film that will be made. I am not sure I believe that, but if it is true, I think “Shrek Forever After” is not too bad a way to end a franchise that has brought a great deal of pleasure to more than a few fans. I am not ashamed to admit I was one of those fans. I will miss Shrek and his family and friends.

Shrek Forever After earns three and a half bow ties out of five.