Fairy tale ending

In ‘Forever After,’ Shrek and his merry cast of characters have run out of ideas

May 21, 2010|Janice Page, Globe Staff

They say it’s the end. They say the Shrek empire is done making movies, if not lunchboxes and Pez dispensers. “Shrek Forever After’’ is being billed as the last of four big-screen romps featuring the lovable slime-green ogre with the cheesy Scottish accent. And to see this final installment is to know: It’s time.

When “Shrek’’ debuted in 2001, it captivated audiences with its sly sendups of conventional fairy tales. Inspired by William Steig’s illustrated children’s book, the spirited animated comedy delivered a Happy Meal-ready title character (voiced by Mike Myers) who rose from a swamp to win the hand of his cursed, half-human soul mate, Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), with help from a mouthy singing donkey (Eddie Murphy). The result was a fresh and fearlessly twisted take on “Beauty and the Beast’’ (Fiona converts to full-time ogre-ing when she finds her one true love), full of endearing winks and nods to a variety of storybook favorites. Above all, it was funny.

Then in 2004, Andrew Adamson, who codirected the original, led a team of writers and directors credited with giving us “Shrek 2.’’ Like most sequels, it couldn’t recapture all of the magic, but it did manage to entertain with the expected barrage of pop-culture in-jokes and the introduction of Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots. In this one, Shrek and Fiona were husband and wife, and Shrek had to out-charm Prince Charming to keep it that way.

“Shrek the Third’’ managed little magic. Handed off to a pair of first-time directors, the ridiculous 2007 sequel found Charming rallying assorted fairy tale “losers’’ in hopes of seizing the kingdom of Far Far Away once ruled by Fiona’s father. Good trumped evil again — it’s not a high bar when Justin Timberlake ascends to the throne — and as soon as proper order was restored, Shrek and Fiona retreated to their beloved swamp to raise a family.

That’s where “Shrek Forever After’’ picks up the torch.

Now famous and fully domesticated, Shrek seems ripe for a midlife crisis. He’s discovering that fatherhood and celebrity can be a tiresome mix: The Star Tours Chariot regularly drives by his home. His toddler triplets demand full attention, which leaves him no time even to wallow in the mud. And his once fearsome roar? It’s become a birthday party crowd-pleaser.

“I’m just a jolly green joke,’’ he whines.