Two was company and three is indeed a crowd — at least as the summer of 2007 seems to be shaping up. In a season full of third installments of popular blockbuster series, today’s “Shrek the Third” follows in the unexceptional footsteps of its predecessor, “Spider-Man 3,” in more ways than one.
Both franchises actually improved from their boffo original episodes to their initial sequels. But in both cases, endearing familiar characters and high entertainment value don’t fully sustain a third time out as weak storylines take over.
For “Spider-Man 3” there was almost too much reliance on action with a convoluted plot. Now, in “Shrek the Third,” an overabundance of old and new characters require face time and laugh lines while a by-the-numbers narrative unfolds.
Characters remain adorably droll thanks to amazing animation and stellar voice talents. The first half of the film is enjoyably fast-moving and jam-packed with their antic introductions in this family fantasy of fractured fairy tales.
But then the script has to serve this chapter’s ho-hum main premise. It imagines that a defeated evil Prince Charming (voice of Rupert Everett) is attempting a coup d’etat after the decline of Far Far Away’s good King Harold (John Cleese). Shrek (Mike Myers) and his Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are the obvious heirs to the throne, but they prefer their swamp. So the beloved cranky ogre sets out to install royal relative Artie aka Arthur (Justin Timberlake), here an awkward teenager out of the Camelot legend. But first, Shrek and company must defeat Charming’s invading army of infamous villains including Captain Hook (Ian McShane) and every storybook witch from the “Wizard of Oz” on down.
Along with the returning eccentrics Donkey (Eddie Murphy), my personal favorite Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas), Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews) and the still hilariously neurotic Gingerbread Man and Three Little Pigs, a posse of fresh good guys — or, er, gals — are introduced to represent for the kingdom. In a nod to revisionist fairy tale female empowerment, however, Snow White (Amy Poehler), Cinderella (Amy Sedaris) and Sleeping Beauty (Cheri Oteri) are no damsels in distress.
They do the rescuing.
This “Shrek,” like the previous ones, is at its comic best when it’s subverting the erstwhile classics — as the Princess Power scenario proves.
But another much more, um, labored subplot has Shrek adjusting to the fact that he is about to become a daddy. Cliches abound here.
As co-directed by Chris Miller and Raman Hui, “Third” sees the waning of a madcap realm.
Congenial escapism? Still, yes. Inspired satire that continues to leave us happily ever after? Not so much.
‘Shrek the Third’
3/5 stars
Starring: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas
Directors: Chris Miller, Raman Hui
Rated PG for some crude humor, suggestive content and swashbuckling action
