Shrek Forever After is the fourth and, so far, last movie in the saga. Same cast as before: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, and now Walt Dohrn, John Hamm, Jane Lynch, Lake Bell, and Craig Robinson.
Shrek (Myers) is in his first year of being a dad to ogre triplets, and while he loves his kids and his wife Fiona (Diaz), coping with the monotony and the lack of freedom gets to him and he snaps while at their birthday party. Down-and-out evil magical bargainer Rumplestiltskin (Dohrn) seizes on the opportunity and trades Shrek one day of freedom for one day from his childhood, but then takes the day Shrek was born and erases him from existence. Since he was never born, he never rescued Fiona; since he never rescued Fiona, her parents made a deal with Stiltskin and vanish into nothing, and now Stiltskin rules Far Far Away with his army of witches and giant terrifying goose. An underground resistance of ogres, led by Fiona are working against him, but Fiona is now bitter, guarded, and completely focused on her mission.
Most of the movie, then, is Shrek having to woo this "new" Fiona, because as with the first two movies, true love's kiss is the cure to the curse. We get to see the fates of all of the other characters: Donkey (Murphy) is haggard and degraded, pulling a witch's cart for a living. Puss (Banderas) is Fiona's cat, but has become fat and soft from pampering. The other fairy-tale creatures are similarly rough and hardened by life under Stiltskin.
I think this is what we call a "classic" plot; It's a Wonderful Life, kinda-sorta. Shrek comes to appreciate what he had, and once again, his biggest fault is that he can't talk about his feelings before they explode (no therapists in Far Far Away, I guess). The world feels familiar, so it actually works when it gets upended and lets things like Gingy (Conrad Vernon) being a gladiator fighting animal crackers have an impact. (Side note: One of the bits I have always found really funny in a dark sort of way is Puss devouring Gingy the second he gets the chance.)
The soundtrack is back on point, too, after slipping a bit in Shrek the Third, and the tighter focus on one villain and his machinations makes for a tighter story. All in all, it's a strong finish for the series, and hopefully they don't feel the need to remake it anytime soon. (The stage musical notwithstanding.)
My Grade: B+
Rewatch Value: Medium-high
Next up: Shutter Island
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