Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas & Walt Dohm
Genre: Animation/ Drama
Director: Mike Mitchell
Release Date India: May 21, 2010
Rating : 3.5/5


The 3D experience undoubtedly makes almost every animation film a treat to watch. Although, when it comes to films like Shrek and the recent ‘How to train your dragon’, content too plays a vital role in making the film as likeable as it is.

‘Shrek Forever After’ is the fourth and supposedly final instalment in the Shrek film series based on the popular children's book ‘Shrek’ by William Steig. The previous three prequels showed how Shrek, the ogre and the cursed princess and thus an Ogre, Fiona’s love happened, evolved and stood steady overcoming all possible hurdles. The fourth instalment is somewhat a prequel of all the previous instalments as it’s about a day in Shrek’s life before he was born, thus before he was married to Fiona and before he had his three children!

Shrek Forever After is every married man’s story who feels his life for himself has come to an end. Responsibility towards wife and children seems like a burden. Days when there were no strings attached are missed and that is what happens to Shrek, the ogre. Shrek is no more the fierce Ogre he used to be. He is now a domesticated family man who misses being a real ogre who can roar. Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn), the wicked magician takes undue advantage of Shrek’s plight and dupes him into signing a pact that magically erases the day Shrek was born! Shrek thus suddenly finds himself stuck in a situation where he needs to save the land of Far Far Away from Rumpelstiltskin, make Fiona fall in love with him once again and get back his family life, who’s worth he realizes after it all goes away.

Shrek 4 connects with the audience as far as the drama is concerned. However, the very intent of making a final chapter seems forced as the story doesn’t really progress from the previous instalments. There is not much novelty in the script as the story is just another run-of-the-mill love story where the hero has to beat the villain at his own game in order to win over his woman so that they could have their ‘true love’s kiss’. The story is monotonous and thus average. Humour too lacks a bit as emotions and drama is given preference.

The film scores however in terms of a stand alone animation film whose beauty lies in its concept of striking a chord with its human audiences and their dilemmas. The voice overs are perfect with each actor resurrecting their roles superbly. Antonio Banderas & Walt Dohm stand out as Puss-In-Boots and Rumpelstiltskin. The 3-D is what makes this film an absolute watch inspite of the drawbacks as it almost takes you to the land of Shrek and Far Far Away. Animation and sound effects are superb. The war of Ogres against the witches flying on brooms will remind you of Harry Potter... these scenes take the movie to a different level altogether.

As a visual experience Shrek 4 is a must watch, as a story, it lacks creativity.


Verdict : Fine finish