Starring:    Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas

Directed:    Mike Mitchell

There is a large shadow on the horizon and its coming this way in the shape of Toy Story 3 so studio bosses decided to bring forwards Shrek Forever After’s release date to ensure maximum receipts before Woody & co take over!

After a stunning entry into movie stardom with Shrek 1 & 2 and a very limp part 3, Shrek Forever After has tried to recapture some of the glory of its origins with a movie that the kids will surely love either way.

Once again starring Mike Myers as the loveable Ogre, Eddie Murphy as Donkey and Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona, the 4th installment finds Shrek suffering from the 7 year itch (so to speak).

Although he is happy with his life, he secretly yearns for the days when he had the swamp to himself and he had to answer to no one.  Making a deal with the tricky Rumpelstiltskin, he gets his wish but chooses unwisely as he soon realises that he has 24 hours to make Fiona fall in love with him again or he will vanish forever.

Once again most of the belly laughs come from Donkey and Puss in Boots played again by Antonio Banderas.  Although carrying most of the humor of the movie on his back (well he IS a donkey) Donkey is by far the most popular character in the movie as the interplay between Shrek and Fiona seems a bit limp and labored and as mostly kids will be viewing this, it’s the Donkey and Puss that they will cheer for.

This is a nice finish to the series, although they should have stopped after number 2, and obviously kids will not care about interplay and just enjoy getting a fresh fix so Shrek and Co.

4/5