SHREK 4* EVER

As I write this I have switched off the TV because England are 4 -1 down against Germany in the World Cup. Sad but true. It hurts.

How I wish i could go back to a happier moment in time...like yesterday (nice link eh...)

When I had the pleasure of heading to the IMAX with my brother to see SHREK  Forever After (A.K.A Shrek 4). It was a simpler time - when the hope of Britain and the pride of a country up in arms made the unusually sunny English weather even brighter - and I was full because I had just eaten at GBK with friends...and food always makes me happy.

                                                                                              Barry and Norma had been stuck like  this since the                                                                                                                                              1st SHREK release. Best not to stare eh..

So back to Shrek. 

Well to be honest there's not much to say - it certainly wasn't anything to shout about - its a recycled formula that knows what its good for, and despite the critics, i dont think the creators need to apologise for that.  It still carried the satirical elements that stood the first film above other animated features in its time, and the characters were just as likable and funny this time round. 

So the story - well same old same old - Its a case of Shrek seeing the greener side of being an Ogre anywhere but right in front of him with Fiona and his new family. Donkey and all the other fairytale creatures don't fear him, his life has become, comfortable. Boring. 

In comes Rumpelstiltskin - a vertically challenged wheeler dealer type villain with a huge chip on his shoulder about something.

He deals contracts, and essentially has people in his debt (familiar ? well look to the second in the series - fairy godmother). When Shrek falls in to his greedy hands the two sign off a contract to trade a day. Shrek wants to be feared like he used to, and Rumple gets to pick any day from Shreks life to do with  what he will. Now for anyone who knows the story of Rumpelstiltskin knows the dude has serious issues. Original story goes he helps out some girl in exchange for her first born (ew) -  in this day and age he would be arrested. I've always wondered why he made that deal...

The secondary characters like Donkey and Puss never fail to bring the humour and endearing qualities to Shrek. We get to see the lovely Fiona Boudicea style and always my favourite part the villains are deliciously bad and high-larious with it.

Jane Lynch and Lake Bell star as some of the Witches (or shall i say Rumple's bitches) and Walt Dohrn as Rumple is so naughty, no where as bad as Fairy Godmother but borders on the Lord Faarquad from the first installment.

 Anyways Shrek goes ahead and has his day of fun terrorising like he used to...only the catch - Rumpelstiltskin is King of Far Far Away. His children don't exist and Fiona isn't his wife...even Donkey and Puss in Boots (fat and cuter than ever !) Shrek realises - the day he's traded is the day he was born. He spends the rest of the movie trying to get back what he never knew he had - the perfect life, before it ceases to exist ever after.

Good film, does exactly what it says on the poster and finally puts the seal on one of the greatest stories ever told....for now.