Shrek Forever After

Released 2nd July 2010, Shrek Forever After illustrates Shrek’s hard-time adjusting to a mundane lifestyle as a father, husband and friend while taking him on a retro-shrek-tive adventure. One thing this film does immediately is distance itself from Shrek the Third; whilst John Cleese’s King Harold isn’t present, whereas his children are, the story doesn’t hinge on the direct events of that film. As a result, Shrek Forever After is free to deliver its own story of appreciation and compassion; themes which differ from that of the previous instalments. In this regard, while still funny, the film approaches its narrative with a more emotional angle in almost every aspect. Mike Myers continues to deliver an honest vocal performance as Shrek and fulfilling his subsequent journey to appreciate the life he has made and the value it truly has.

I am also glad to report that Donkey, Puss in Boots and Fiona feel important to the narrative again; most notably Cameron Diaz’s Fiona. This film decides to take Fiona’s time locked in a tower and flips the original narrative on its head to convey a much more stoic Fiona. This stoicism that Diaz brings is able to elicit tender moments which initiate the audience to realise that there is some deep trauma that Fiona buries under her exogenous personality; trauma which forms a greater respect for Fiona in retrospective. A particular standout in this film however is Walt Dohrm’s villainous Rumpelstiltskin. Whilst all of the Shrek villains have had fantastic voice actors, even Prince Charming in Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third, Dohrm articulates with such slimy menace that he is entrancing whenever he speaks. On top of that, Rumpelstiltskin is a greatly intelligent villain who poses a true threat to Shrek and all he holds dear.

Whilst the animation is arguably the best out of the series, it loses the grimier style that the originals managed to encapsulate without looking cheap. With this in mind, I can’t help but throw credit to the exceptional lighting throughout; it was stunning and really entrancing. Harry Gregson-Williams’ soundtrack was also delightful and poignant where necessary. In conclusion, Shrek Forever After is a satisfying epilogue for the Shrek franchise by wrapping it up with fresh themes, reverence for its foundations and better humour than Shrek the Third.