I was really hoping for an awesome movie, since the first Shrek was great. The second one was pretty good though didn't quite have what the first did, but still had a lot of redeeming attributes. But the third...well it was like bad leftovers that have had to sit in the fridge for several months. Nothing new to them other than the nasty mold munching away at what decent qualities it once had.

What little plot, if you could call it that, was boring and the jokes were overused. The main characters weren't necessarily out of character but they weren't quite how they were in the previous two. The bad guys were pathetic in my opinion, especially when they just randomly switch from the "bad side" to the "good side" at the end. It took no convincing at all for them to change which was pretty lame. The only thing I like about it was the animation.

It's not a horrible movie, I think the main reason I didn't like it is I had such high expectations for it and it fell short... a lot. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a die hard Shrek fan.

I'm a fan of the Shrek series. I didn't gripe when I heard they were planning seventy-five more. And I enjoyed watching this, though with a feeling of mild disappointment.

But oh, lord, it SO reeks of retread. It's sad when such an excellent property is let down by uncreative storytelling. They need some new writers down at Dreamworks, badly.

EDIT: I rewatched, and maybe I was a bit unfair with the review. The movie is still full of funny stuff and a reasonable entry into the Shrek series. Making Arthur less of a stereotype and giving Shrek a storyline with some real teeth in it might have made this a great film.

I think I liked Shrek better when no one liked him. At the beginning of Shrek the Third, the not so jolly green ogre assumes the crown of far far away much to the joy of the townsfolk. What!? When did Sir Shrek become a hero to the people? I liked it when Shrek was being hunted and despised. rather than celebrated. Anyhow, Shrek, wanting nothing more than his simple swamp life, seeks out Justin Timberlake aka little Artie to rule in his stead. Hilarity ensues.

There were a couple of good jokes in the movie. I always enjoy the gingerbread man and a scene where his life flashed before his eyes was great. Also, Pinocchio's efforts to not lie while obscuring the truth earned a chuckle. Unfortunately, while Shrek 3 wasn't by any means a bad movie, it was just more of the same. More Evil Prince Charming, more grumpy Shrek, and more ugly Fiona. Fiona even gets a posse when she throws a baby shower for the little ogrelings in her belly. Of the group, Snow White was the best with a great homage to the Disney Snow White film ending in an animal assault.

Once again, the animation in Shrek the Third was top notch. Basically, Shrek the Third is a fairly good time (as long as your kid isn't continually trying to escape from the theatre) especially for fans of the first 2 films. The movie is raking in the cash zipping past Shrek 1's 267 mil and looking to close out around $320 mil or so. Still I doubt crowds are aching for the impending Shrek's 4 or 5, but Dreamworks can't stop shaking their main moneymaker. Shrek the Third isn't a total turd, but failing to really mix up the formula, Shrek 3 makes a B-.

Well, the trailers didn't disappoint with the humor that Shrek the 3rd had to offer!

(Heck, the night before I went to see it the Friday it opened in theaters, I watched the previous two Shrek films . . . in order - you know, just in case I needed to be reinformed of the events leading up to this third film of the Shrek Saga . . .)

It's a good thing I did.

**Note: There are slight SPOILERS and things from the other two Shrek movies in this review. Read this with caution!!**

Without going into detail, Shrek the Third is an . . . interestingly hilarious sequel. Like its predecessors, it doesn't fail to make you almost laugh so hard that your soda spews out your nose.

The main plot is basic: By being married to the Princess Fiona and having been accepted by her father, King Harold, Shrek learns that he is the next in line to become King of Far, Far Away. Of course, Shrek only wants to return back to his beloved swampland abode - plus the very fact that he's an ogre makes him doubt himself as a rightful leader for an entire kingdom. So, it's up to him to seek out the remaining heir - Arthur (AKA Artie).

Thus beginning a long amount of adventure for the loveable (?) ogre in his third adventure . . .

Of course, did I forget to mention that a previous foe plots his revenge on Shrek, Fiona is pregnant (OMG?), and . . . princesses have superpowers?

An awkward mix, isn't it?

But in the end, Shrek the Third was an okay sequel - the most cluttered of the three so far, but not better than the prior two. It definitely tickled the funny bones and had a major life lesson (or in Shrek's case, a life-changing lesson . . . XD), but . . . argh, there is only so much you can put into an hour-and-a half-ish film . . .

There were indeed some Pros and Cons:

PROS:
- Very detailed animation (what else would you expect from Dreamworks? Besides, the previous two looked stunning; would you dare doubt the third of being worse? . . . of course not.) with its puns and pop culture joke dialogue and settings too. Nice touch!
- Two words. Justin. Timberlake. (Perfect voice casting for Arthur! Cool, geeky, but great addition to the Shrek saga. Yes, animation fans: JT can do more than sing and dance - he can (voice) act!) *squeals*
- Return of the original cast (Great stuff! It's always good when the cast of the prior films return for its sequels . . . too bad not all good sequels are this lucky . . .)

And . . . the CONS:
- Lots of story, just not enough meat (This had to be bad. The story moved slowly at times and had its own useless parts, but some character development could have been nice. It just wasn't enough for me . . . wah?)
- Shrek . . . not Ogre enough? (Well, I think his relationship to Fiona softened him a bit. Sure, I liked the fact that his attitude of how he was a stereotyped character (ruthless ogre-type . . . the ones with layers like an onion . . .) affected his actions in the previous Shrek films, but he wasn't that much of the old Shrek in this sequel. I guess the fact that he was about to become a father helped change him throughout the film, but meh.)

Other than that, this ranks as one of the better sequels that I've seen. Shrek 2 is the better of the three however, but it's still up to par with the rest of the film story that these three films are weaving.

My Opinion: Check it out! It's worth the price of the ticket . . . then buy it when it comes out on DVD! You won't be disappointed!

3.5 stars!

The movie reminded me a little of a string of Saturday Night Live skits all strung together. Not nearly as much cohension as the two earlier movies in terms of the overall story. That said, unlike most movies that attempt this sort of humour, a good deal of it was actually quite funny.

And, of course, animation looked good... and I was quite impressed with Justin Timberlake's turn as Arthur. His voice talent stood shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the cast.

I don't know that I'd suggest paying full theatre price for it, but it's worth a rent if you have enjoyed the rest of the Shrek series.