The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : The curse of the sequel strikes once more

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Sunday, Jun 03, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

The curse of the sequel strikes once more

Shrek the third (English)

Director: Chris Miller, Raman Hui

Voice cast: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake

The sequel (or shall we say three-quel?) curse strikes again. When the first "Shrek" movie came out, it was amazing for its inventiveness and creativity. There were genuine laughs to be had on the subversion of everything from fairy tales to the big glossy animation movie itself.

"Shrek 2" was that rare film that was even better than the first. To expect "Shrek the Third" to top the first two was just this side of optimistic. And the film is predictably disappointing. There is enough to laugh at. But, unfortunately, the laughs are not of the gut-busting variety.

The third instalment opens with frog king Harold dying (croaking, get it?) and on his deathbed naming Shrek his successor.

The jolly green ogre with the Scottish brogue will have none of it and sets off with his companions, the chatty Donkey and the suave Puss in Boots, in search of the next in line of succession, Arthur Pendragon.

Just as the intrepid trio are setting sail, Princess Fiona drops another bombshell — the swamp would soon resound with the patter of baby ogre feet.

As Shrek and company are trying to convince Arthur to claim the throne, Fiona invites fairytale princesses to a baby shower.

Prince Charming kidnaps Fiona and the other princesses, and Shrek comes in, and there is a big bust-up, and everything turns out right in the end.

All the old faithfuls — Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Fiona), Eddie Murphy (Donkey) and Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots) return. The new kid on the block is Justin Timberlake as the nerdy Arthur.

One would have expected a hilarious take on the Arthur thread.

However, apart from the magician Merlin doing silly magic in a nightshirt, there is nothing very clever on that end.

The Gingerbread Man, the three blind mice, Pinocchio, and the three little pigs make obligatory appearances. The little baby ogres are just begging to be merchandised. Ah, the cruelty of the lure of lucre!

Mini Anthikad-Chhibber

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