Movie Review Black Los Angeles

BlackNLA Movie Reviews

*****THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*****

by Edwardo Jackson

BIASES:Early 30s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare

SHREK THE THIRD (PG)

MOVIE BIASES: It's a blockbuster, albeit an animated one. Kinda pre-sold.
MAJOR PLAYERS: Voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas (all "Shrek 2"), Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding), and Justin Timberlake (Black Snake Moan)

Parenthood is the theme for "Shrek the Third": Donkey (Murphy) has a brood of adorable dragon-donkey babies and Princess Fiona's (Diaz) frog king father (John Cleese)…uh, croaks. Faced with the daunting challenge of ruling the kingdom when all he wants to do is return to the smelly comforts of his beloved swamp, Shrek (Myers) sets out for Worcestershire High, where Fiona's socially outcast cousin Artie (Timberlake) lives, unwittingly, next in line for the throne. While Puss 'N Boots (Banderas), Donkey, and Shrek head home with their young charge, a jilted, vengeful, dinner theater playing Prince Charming (Everett) rallies the losers of other fairy tales like Rumplestiltskin and the Ugly Stepsister for an assault on Fiona's kingdom of Far Far Away to ensure their own "happily ever afters."

This much we know about the "Shrek" franchise: the animation is breathtaking, it's a four quadrant movie to please all ages and genders, and it'll be full of modern spins on classic fairy tales. What we also know about the "Shrek" franchise kind of hurts it - we've been there, done that. Girded by a flotilla of writers and the sharp,
comedic direction of Chris Miller, "Shrek" is clever, awkwardly cool (an oxymoron, I know, yet it still achieves this wondrous feat), and entertaining. Unfortunately, because we are so familiar with the characters, the jokes land a little lighter, the amazing capabilities of the Dreamworks Animation world amazes a little softer. Shrek and Fiona are faced with a few new challenges but everyone else basically
sticks to shtick. I found myself chuckling more than guffawing at the relentless onslaught of cuteness, despite amusing new entries in the 'chise like spoiled Snow White (Amy Poehler), dim-witted Cinderella (Amy Sedaris), narcoleptic Sleeping Beauty (Cheri Oteri), a weaved out Rapunzel (Maya Rudolph), and an organic, granola-headed wizard Merlin (Eric Idle).

The big three of Myers, Diaz, and Murphy reprise their roles with energy, even though the script doesn't always match it. Perennial scene-stealer Puss 'N Boots is purred with passion by Banderas. The unfairly talented Justin Timberlake (what, it wasn't enough for you to bring sexy back AND you gotta be a capable actor?!?) impresses again "onscreen," charismatically voicing the angst-ridden confusion of
Artie with just enough teenage smartaleckiness to be convincing but not so much that we think he's a brat. Artie's just pubescent and a king, that's all (if I were 16 and a king, I'd be SOOO drunk with power, I'd be in and out of rehab more than Britney Spears).

I left the theater with a wan smile about this movie, feeling like I'd been entertained but not overly so. A day later, I felt the same way, but couldn't recall specifically (without my notes) why I'd felt entertained. With critics lining up to piñata party this movie out of its sheer audacity as a calculated, vertically integrated corporate cash grab rather than being a genuine family summer treat like "Shrek the First," I won't put on my blindfold. But I will wave a soft stick.

@@ REELS
(TWO REELS)
Extra medium

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at EJAce1@gmail.com!

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com




			BlackNLA Movie Reviews ***THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*** by Edwardo Jackson BIASES:Early 30s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare SHREK THE THIRD (PG) MOVIE BIASES: It's a blockbuster, albeit an animated one. Kinda pre-sold. MAJOR PLAYERS: Voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas (all "Shrek 2"), Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding), and Justin Timberlake (Black Snake Moan) Parenthood is the theme for "Shrek the Third": Donkey (Murphy) has a brood of adorable dragon-donkey babies and Princess Fiona's (Diaz) frog king father (John Cleese)…uh, croaks. Faced with the daunting challenge of ruling the kingdom when all he wants to do is return to the smelly comforts of his beloved swamp, Shrek (Myers) sets out for Worcestershire High, where Fiona's socially outcast cousin Artie (Timberlake) lives, unwittingly, next in line for the throne. While Puss 'N Boots (Banderas), Donkey, and Shrek head home with their young charge, a jilted, vengeful, dinner theater playing Prince Charming (Everett) rallies the losers of other fairy tales like Rumplestiltskin and the Ugly Stepsister for an assault on Fiona's kingdom of Far Far Away to ensure their own "happily ever afters." This much we know about the "Shrek" franchise: the animation is breathtaking, it's a four quadrant movie to please all ages and genders, and it'll be full of modern spins on classic fairy tales. What we also know about the "Shrek" franchise kind of hurts it - we've been there, done that. Girded by a flotilla of writers and the sharp, comedic direction of Chris Miller, "Shrek" is clever, awkwardly cool (an oxymoron, I know, yet it still achieves this wondrous feat), and entertaining. Unfortunately, because we are so familiar with the characters, the jokes land a little lighter, the amazing capabilities of the Dreamworks Animation world amazes a little softer. Shrek and Fiona are faced with a few new challenges but everyone else basically sticks to shtick. I found myself chuckling more than guffawing at the relentless onslaught of cuteness, despite amusing new entries in the 'chise like spoiled Snow White (Amy Poehler), dim-witted Cinderella (Amy Sedaris), narcoleptic Sleeping Beauty (Cheri Oteri), a weaved out Rapunzel (Maya Rudolph), and an organic, granola-headed wizard Merlin (Eric Idle). The big three of Myers, Diaz, and Murphy reprise their roles with energy, even though the script doesn't always match it. Perennial scene-stealer Puss 'N Boots is purred with passion by Banderas. The unfairly talented Justin Timberlake (what, it wasn't enough for you to bring sexy back AND you gotta be a capable actor?!?) impresses again "onscreen," charismatically voicing the angst-ridden confusion of Artie with just enough teenage smartaleckiness to be convincing but not so much that we think he's a brat. Artie's just pubescent and a king, that's all (if I were 16 and a king, I'd be SOOO drunk with power, I'd be in and out of rehab more than Britney Spears). I left the theater with a wan smile about this movie, feeling like I'd been entertained but not overly so. A day later, I felt the same way, but couldn't recall specifically (without my notes) why I'd felt entertained. With critics lining up to piñata party this movie out of its sheer audacity as a calculated, vertically integrated corporate cash grab rather than being a genuine family summer treat like "Shrek the First," I won't put on my blindfold. But I will wave a soft stick. @@ REELS (TWO REELS) Extra medium Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at EJAce1@gmail.com! Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com © 2007, Edwardo Jackson