Shrek Forever After

Noodles.

I really want to like this movie. I enjoyed the original Shrek, and I can still sit through it when I catch it on cable. However, part two seemed like it rehashed a lot of jokes from part one, and then part three was a rehash of the rehash. My kids, who I thought loved ALL animated movies, treat the Shrek 2 DVD like a coaster. They consider it a punishment if I try to put it on. That being said, I really want to like this movie.

From the trailer I can already tell that they are going to revisit some of the same jokes that they've beaten to death by now, but I feel that with the Star Trek like reboot of the Shrek universe, it might be okay. Is it just me or has every character Eddie Murphy has played since this series started comes off as a weird reincarnation of Donkey? Think about it for a second...Listen to this song he sang from Dream Girls and close your eyes --that's Donkey singing. But I digress...

I like the premise, I like the added character of Rumpelstilkin, I even like that Donkey, Puss, and Fiona get a new lease on life here. I would call my feeling cautiously optimistic for this to be a good one.

Box Office: Let's face it Shrek's a juggernaut. I can remember that around the third movie I counted dozens of tie in products that had absolutely nothing to do with cinema, on sale in every shopping mall. This series is HUGE! Even if it fails it can't fail. We're talking about a kids movie that an adult wouldn't necessarily have to be dragged to go see, and its in 3D? No contest. So my honest opinion is that Shrek is going to blow Iron Man 2 from its perch at #1 and rake in an easy $97 Million.

The Bouw-Man.

Arguably the most successful animated franchise of all-time is back for its fourth installment, as it clings to the hopes of capturing the lucrative 3D market.  The trailer leads us to believe that nothing all that new or original will make this edition memorable, but rather it will play as sort of a “farewell tour” for fans of these legendary characters.  As is customary with most franchises, “Shrek” has gotten progressively worse with each sequel.  The first one was so groundbreaking, not to mention a thoroughly entertaining classic, for Dreamworks that it led other studios to challenge Disney for the animated dollar.  Animated films are now being produced at an alarming rate.  As a result, more and more are box office failures for a genre that used to be considered a “sure thing” in terms of financial success.  So, it only seems natural that the “Shrek” brand name would now reappear to batter the competition during the Summer 2010 season.   To increase its marketability, theaters will happily charge patrons a few bucks more to experience the green Ogre and his friends in 3D and/or IMAX.  Who cares if the preview leads us to believe that this shouldn’t have been made?  Kids will love it, adults will be disappointed, but Dreamworks sees green (and I’m talking dollars, not the Ogre).  

 
It will be highway robbery for Shrek this weekend at the box office.  Although it’s doubtful this franchise well past its prime will get many good critical reviews, it’s all about money.  With little animated competition for over a month, I see this being one of the top grossing films of the year.  Look for a $135 million take this weekend.