Thanks to DreamWorks' almost flawless animation, Shrek the Third is a pleasure to watch. The artwork gives weight and texture to the imaginary fairytale creatures.
But the story lacks the energy and originality of its predecessors. While the film is the most visually appealing, it's the least exciting instalment in the franchise.
The movie, co-directed by Hong Kong-born animator Raman Hui Shing-ngai and Chris Miller, once again takes us into the world of the lovable green ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) and his wife Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz). As the the princess's father, King Harold, is dying, Shrek must rule the kingdom of Far Far Away in his place.
Shrek isn't interested in the job, so he sails off to find a substitute. The king's second-choice heir, Artie (Justin Timberlake), is a favourite target of bullies at school and so is even less well-equipped to rule a kingdom.
As Shrek tries his best to persuade Artie to take over the leadership, the jealous Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) convinces all the fairytale villains, from Captain Hook and the Wicked Queen, to the Headless Horseman and one of Cinderella's step-sisters, to fight for their own happy ending and help him conquer Far Far Away.
Rife with anti-Disney jokes, inside gags and slapstick humour, Shrek the Third tries hard to be funny. But most of the jokes and gags have lost their edge, having been repeated in so many fairytale spoofs over the last few years. Like Shrek himself, the franchise is ageing before our eyes.