Is Shrek Forever After the final chapter?

MANILA, Philippines - I am quite sure that most of you, like me, have never missed a Shrek movie. The first two were hands down totally entertaining, and are even considered modern classics. The third one, on the other hand, was quite a letdown, and needless to say, moviegoers were not expecting much from the fourth either.

Surprise!!! Shrek the fourth, titled Shrek Forever After, is very well-crafted and joins the first two installments in the animation hall of fame. The scriptwriters did an excellent job of coming up with a great storyline which husbands, wives and children can identify with. The impressive 3D special affects also adds to the overall success of the movie giving moviegoers a larger than life experience.

Shrek Forvever After begins with Shrek, who is now a father to baby triplets. He is the darling of his community, but somehow feels very unhappy. Shrek feels trapped in his life which merely alternates between fatherly and husbandly duties, not even finding the time to relax in a mud bath. To make matters even worse, the loved ogre has become a tour attraction with no privacy even during his toilet time. The situation weighs down on Shrek until he finally reaches his boiling point at the birthday party of his triplets, where he screams and loses control. A fight with wife Fiona ensues and a still simmering Shrek is tempted by villain Rumpelstiltskin to become the real ogre that he was even for one day, in exchange for a day in his early life. Shrek has no idea that he is being tricked by Rumpelstiltskin in order that he can be the King of Far Far Away. Heartbroken and about to lose his wife, children and friends, he embarks on the difficult journey of winning them back, and most importantly, of gaining the love of Fiona all over again.

Shrek Forever After is filled with so many entertaining yet heartwarming scenes which probably helped make it the highest grossing movie during an opening weekend in the US. It seems that loyal Shrek fans worldwide have not lost their interest and hope in the film, despite the disappointment of the third installment. Antonio Banderas and Eddie Murphy, the voices behind Puss-in-Boots (who was such a huggable and fat darling) and Donkey (who shared his singing voice in several familiar songs), should be given much credit for the entertainment factor of this movie. The two seasoned actors, as well as Mike Myers (Shrek) and Cameron Diaz (Fiona), provide the five-star quality that other animated films lack.

Although difficult to separate from the four characters they were portraying, the actors were highly successful in bringing the cartoons to life, and in translating the imaginary world of Shrek into something almost real and palpable. Even young children are able to feel a rich tapestry of emotions through their outstanding performances. All the fun that they probably had in the recording studio came through to the audience, allowing people of all ages to laugh, and cry along with the characters.

The scriptwriters, even after so many installments, still managed to come up with an ingenious, seamless plot that brought Shrek the fourth an even closer place in our hearts, and brought it even closer to home. Who among our married men have not dreamed of going back to their pre-marital freedom? Who among our husbands do not feel the burden of having to juggle between family and community responsibilities? And who, among our much-attached male species have not encountered a single temptation in their lives?

Indeed, it is positively surprising that a fun, light-hearted animated movie can also give so many life lessons, and dig so deeply into the human psyche, offering us a refreshing and enlightening view of the world. Shrek Forever After teaches us not only to appreciate and love what we have but also that we can achieve so much if we are united. It also shows us that women are strong, and have the capability to lead men, even in wars. Values such as bravery, loyalty to family and friends, and the importance of being careful who to trust are made accessible even to young children, who delight in the film, yet emerge from the theaters a little bit wiser than they were when they walked in. Most importantly, Shrek Forever After helps us believe in the great power of love

The fourth and final installment of Shrek leaves us fans with mixed feelings. Although we are glad to see that the animation franchise has managed to uplift itself and deliver yet another record-breaking box-office hit, we are sad that our favorite green ogre and the different tales of adventure that go with him, his beloved Fiona and his loyal friends are coming to an end. All in all, Shrek Forever After is a film about one family that will speak volumes to every family in the audience. The 3D effects allow us to get lost in the story, whether we are four or 64 years old. I highly recommend this movie to all the families out there, and am glad to see that Shrek’s final chapter is going out with a big bang!

(E-mail author at [email protected] or text 0927-5000833. Help build houses for the poor through the Gawad Kalinga by calling 718-1738 to 41 or text 0917-5239777)