Shrek the Third (2007)

Sequels to classic animated films rarely live up to the quality of the originals, but I have to say, this movie comes close. In Shrek the Third, following the king's death, the ogre is looked at as the heir to the throne of Far, Far Away. Not interested in the job, Shrek sets out to find the future King Arthur, all the while unaware of the schemes of the jilted Prince Charming who has his own designs for the throne. Considering how great the original Shrek was, and how good the follow-up turned out to be, I was nervous that this movie would turn out to be like the third Austin Powers, more of the same tired jokes. I was happily surprised that Shrek the Third was really funny, and quite original and creative while maintaining the integrity of the series. It was not as good as the first installment, but it was definitely worth making. One of the best things about the Shreks are the recognizable voices of all the relevant characters. The third edition is no exception. Justin Timberlake adds his voice to the established characters brought to life by Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews and Antonio Banderas. Over the past few years, the number of computer animated films has ballooned, and we are no longer getting gem after gem like we did with Toy Story and the original Shrek. I was happy to see that this movie was not just more fluff, but was another great Pixar film that is a lot of fun for both children and adults. I watched Shrek the Third with my wife and daughter, and while my daughter's attention waxed and waned, I feel like we all enjoyed it. I like all the Shrek films, and the third was no exception. When she gets a little older, I would happily watch this film with my child again. I give Shrek the Third 3 stars.