Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews,
John Cleese, Walt Dorhn. Directed by Mike Mitchell. 93 minutes.

****

The law of diminishing return dictates that this fourth instalment of
the popular fairy tale franchise Shrek is proving less successful than
its predecessors. However, against expectation, it's easily a match for
the magic of the original and a worthy way to wrap up a journey that's
taken us Far Far Away in our imagination and heart.

A decade ago we all fell in love with a less than jolly green
ogre called Shrek who simultaneously fell for beautiful Princess Fiona,
who conveniently also happens to be an ogre - at least after dark, when
it's best to leave the curtains of the boudoir drawn anyway. That love
affair returned us all to our childhood, where characters like
Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man, Three Blind Mice, the Fairy Godmother,
Puss In Boots and the Magic Mirror populated our dreams long before
digital technology could create them before our very eyes.

Since this is the final chapter, the makers of Shrek, who
clearly adore their creation, have turned to 3D to stamp their mark on
what is arguably the darkest story so far. It's also the snappiest tale,
tripping along at a frantic pace that never loses its way, even though
Shrek, Donkey, Fiona and Puss In Boots are transported into a parallel
dimension where things are definitely not as they should be.

Thanks to the skulduggery of Rumpelstiltskin, wonderfully
voiced by Walt Dorhn, most notable for working behind the scenes on
other animated films and shows, Shrek's selfish desire to return to his
former life as a loner comes true. But there's always a twist when evil
is involved and Shrek is tricked into undoing the past. He must discover
how to reverse the folly of his bargain with Rumpelstiltskin, who is
revelling in his new position as king of Far Far Away. Problem is, his
friends no longer know him so he must win their allegiance again to
right the wrong.

The beauty of fairytales is that anything can - and usually
does - happen. Imagination breathes life to characters, situations and
far off places that entertain, edify and emote. Shrek Forever After
encapsulates each of these possibilities. We already know and love the
land and folk of Far Far Away. But wouldn't it be fun to see Puss In
Boots after he's really let himself go? What if Fiona was an exiled
warrior leading a resistant cell of ogres to war? And if Far Far Away
has fallen into darkness, can the light be restored by magic and a whole
lot of love?

Sure, the film revisits many of its most popular characters
and dynamics. But its purpose is to allow us to enjoy everything that
Shrek means to us one last time before we're tucked up tight, the light
goes off and we're left with our memories.

* BARNEY MCDONALD