BOTTOM
LINE:
Fun
and watchable, and a distinct improvement over the dismal third
entry in the franchise, “Shrek Forever After” does however
create a sense of lethargy that would suggest that it is more than
appropriate that this is the last instalment in the franchise.
THE
GOOD: Having
mined the ironic take on the ‘happily ever after’ fairy
tale in the first three films, this fourth film makes the smart
move of introducing the character of Rumpelstiltskin as the chief
antagonist and through his crafty dealings, creates an alternate
universe in which Shrek never saved Fiona. Free from the constraints
of the established characters and setup, except for Shrek who does
the deal with Rumpelstiltskin to return to how things were before
meeting Fiona, the film manages to introduce some fresh elements,
with both Donkey and Puss In Boots being the main beneficiaries
in terms of change. Fiona is great too as the ogre rebel leader,
while Rumpelstiltskin is a good, snarky antagonist. The film is
quite fun in many places, and its premise allows it to be more interesting
in some sense than the previous two films in the franchise (although
the second film is much better executed than this one). “Shrek
Forever After” is a huge improvement on the lacklustre third
film, largely thanks to its alternate universe take and portrayal
of its core characters in a new light.
