Cannes, France — This out-of-tune, off-kilter, lame-o finale (oh how I hope it’s the last one) to the Mike Meyers-led “Shrek” franchise is so far removed from the first two films that it doesn’t seem related.
Mike Meyers’ vocal delivery as Shrek lacks the comic lilt and rhythm that once bubbled over, but now seems depressed. Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas add what little enchantment there is to be found as the smart-ass (pun intended) donkey and demure puss-in-boots respectively.
Director Chris Miller displays an inexplicable preponderance for fire that recurrently threatens to burn out any levity that the “children’s” movie might achieve. Shrek is heir to the throne of the Hollywood-styled town of Far, Far Away, but he’d much rather substitute the young Arthur Pendragon (Justin Timberlake) in his place.
Too bad then that Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) has beaten Shrek’s surrogate to the throne.
Musical miscues, with songs like “Live and Let Die,” continuously trouble the movie into nightmare territory that’s reinforced by Shrek’s recurring bad dream about being overrun by hundreds of baby ogres.
Rated PG. 93 mins.
