*/****
screenplay by Josh Klausner & Darren Lemke
directed by Mike Mitchell
by Ian Pugh Because Shrek the
Third tied things up pretty conclusively, what they're
probably going to tell you is that Shrek Forever After
(hereafter Shrek 4) is more of an epilogue than a
sequel. What they won't tell you is that this "epilogue," co-written by
the screenwriter of Date Night, is more of a toy
than a feature film. But your money's just as green as it ever was. Now
settled into a monotonous family life, Shrek (voice of Mike Myers)
strikes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn) for the chance to live
one more day as a bachelor/terrifying ogre. Unfortunately, said deal
transports Shrek into an alternate reality in which he never rescued
Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from the dragon's lair, freeing Rumpelstiltskin to
conquer the kingdom of Far Far Away. And despite much talk of being
grateful for what you have, that's all there is to it, really. Sure,
it's better than Shrek the Third, but lots of
things are better than Shrek the Third--and even
then, Shrek 4 is only an improvement in the sense
that it isn't obsessed with scatological humour...and that it doesn't
leave an especially terrible aftertaste. It doesn't leave the slightest
impression at all, in fact. It's not merely a product, it wants
you to see it as a product: It's a Wonderful Life
as told by Mr. Potter. Oh, and it's in 3-D. I mean, of course
it is.


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