Went to see Shrek Forever After this weekend and was slightly surprised. I loved the first Shrek movie. It was funny and did a great job working new characters in with existing fairy tales. You could see the love of the genre and the snarkiness just beyond the story that adults would see, but would pass right over the kids heads. The sequel, Shrek 2, wasn’t as good (as most sequels aren’t), but there were still some fun parts. It wasn’t a bad movie and I did enjoy watching it. That brings us to Shrek the Third. And having said the name, we can move on. But really, it was a bad movie. Bad, casting, bad plot, bad jokes, but great box office. I left the theater hoping that Shrek was gone for good.

So I came into Shrek Forever After with some trepidation. After seeing how bad the previous one was, I had no hopes at all for this one. But it wasn’t horrible. I know that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement. But that’s the best I can offer. The basic story is Shrek has a mid-life crisis. His family and friends take a lot of his time and he’s no longer seen as a ferocious monster. So he talks to Rumpelstiltskin, who almost had Fiona’s parents sign the kingdom over to him before Shrek rescued her. Rumpelstiltskin promises him one day of the way everything was before (he’s alone and everyone’s scared of him) in exchange for one day in his past.

Of course, Rumpelstiltskin, tricks him and Shrek realizes that his life was better with Fiona and the kids and the family then it was before. So he must then work to reconnect with Fiona and fight off Rumpelstiltskin so that he can put things back the way they were before. Overall, a sappy story with a few good jokes, decent animation and Rumpelstiltskin was better in the movie than Arthur was in the last one. Mildly recommended if you have kids.