Shrek Forever After

♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Good score for the visual experience, an area in which this franchise never disappoints, specially now for the first time in 3D. The problem is with the story itself. Like those sequels of popular Disney cartoons such as Aladdin and The Lion King, this particular Shrek installment's story also seems to be just good enough for a straight to DVD movie. They were already running out of stories to tell in the third one and was just saved by their funny parodies of classic Disney characters. In this one, they had to make an alternate storyline just to accommodate Rumpelstiltskin. Boring.

It does not help either that this one is not as funny and enjoyable as the previous three. Rumpelstiltskin is not funny at all. His jokes are corny and he is plain annoying. It is a good thing that at least Donkey and Puss still get their fair share of funny lines despite the relatively less exposure that they have. Even Pinocchio and the gang have suddenly become dull.

The moral of the story focuses on the dullness of everyday routine involved in that thing called marriage. It is another one of those be-careful-what-you-wish-for-cause-you-just-might-get-it... just might get it... just might get it... themes. You know how it ends when the main character learns his lesson.

The Forever After has already been reached when the third one ended. Honestly, Shrek should end here. They have already contributed a lot to the advancement of modern animation. Coming up with another installment might just reduce the franchise to something less than it should be.

And yes, it looks amazing in 3D. But that's about it.