Burdened by a blissful life with his wife, three children, and numerous friends, Shrek grows weary. After a quarrel with Fiona at a children’s birthday party, snapping at the guests, the family ogre goes for a walk and falls into a trap set by the sorcerer Rumpelstiltskin – a trickster who offers Shrek a deal: one day from his former, free life in exchange for any other day from the life of the celebrated ogre. Without a second thought, Shrek signs – and ends up in an alternate reality where he never rescued Fiona, never befriended Donkey and Puss, Rumpelstiltskin sits on the throne, and his witch henchwomen hunt ogres.
The saga of the Last Real Man on the Planet is drawing to a close – “Shrek Forever After” marks the final chapter in the ogre’s story (though not the story in general – “Puss in Boots,” dedicated to the early years of the brave cat Banderas, was released on November 4, 2011). Saying goodbye to Shrek is sad, and there’s no desire to play the “better than the third film, but worse than the second,” “better than the second and almost like the first” game: very apt 3D, the vicissitudes of family life for adults, and a giant toothy goose as Rumpelstiltskin’s henchman for the kids, adventures and battles – everything a fan of the ogre’s charisma needs is present in “Shrek Forever After.” Perhaps it slightly lacks that joyful amazement that occurred when Fiona first exploded a bird with her singing – but the first time is always the first time, unique and unrepeatable.
However, all people, as is known, are divided into those who will always go to a new “Shrek” and those who won’t, so luring them with stories about a disco of hip-shaking witches, the special expression on the face of the dramatically overweight cat when he says “Feed me… if you dare!” or an ogre chef desperately mimicking the mannerisms of the inimitable Lafayette from “True Blood,” is completely pointless.
Shrek Forever After: A Grown-Up Tale
Besides the above, those who won’t will miss something else, and it’s not about Donkey, although he’s as handsome as ever in 3D. “Shrek Forever After” is probably the most adult of all the films in the series. Not only because it talks about things very understandable to all family people, when he wants to happily fall face-first into a puddle, and she wonders – what more do you need, you have us. At some point, Shrek will say to Fiona, “It wasn’t me who saved you, but you who saved me,” without specifying from what.
The Magic of Banality
Hollywood’s great ability to say banalities in such a way that here and now, until the lights come on, they sound like the first time, is, in fact, what made it what it is. “Shrek,” in its entirety, from the first series – a male version of “Pretty Woman,” ends the ogre’s story with the most important banalities in the world. Those without which – there’s no way at all.