Shrek Forever After is a 2010 American computer-animated comedy drama film directed by Mike Mitchell, produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
It is a sequel to Shrek the Third and the fourth and last installment of the Shrek franchise. It focuses on Shrek signing a deal with Rumpelstiltskin to be a true ogre for a day but he finds himself trapped in an alternate timeline where he was never born and has only one day to get his life back before he disappears.
It stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas reprising their roles from the previous films with Walt Dohrn, Jon Hamm and Craig Robinson joining them voicing new characters.
The film was released on May 21 2010. Despite receiving mixed reviews from film critics, the film was positively welcomed from audience and fans that defined it a big improvement over its mediocre predecessor and was a huge box office success.
Plot[]
The movie begins with King Harold and Queen Lillian journeying to a valley ruled by witches and their leader, Rumpelstiltskin. Concerned for Fiona's safety in the Tallest Tower, Rumpelstiltskin consents to assist them in return for their kingdom. However, just before the enchanted contract is signed, the king and queen receive sudden news of Fiona's rescue, voiding the agreement. Consequently, Rumpelstiltskin vows vengeance against the one who thwarted his opportunity: Shrek.
Currently, Shrek resides in the swamp with his wife Fiona and their children, yet married life presents its own challenges. He has become increasingly weary of his role as a family man and local celebrity, longing for the times when he was considered a "real ogre." During a trip to the Kingdom of Far Far Away with his family and best friend Donkey to celebrate his children's first birthday, a sequence of unfortunate events further wounds his pride, leading him to lose his temper and storm out in frustration.
Rumpelstiltskin, after witnessing Shrek's tantrum, takes his opportunity. He trails Shrek and orchestrates a scenario where Shrek seems to save his life. In "gratitude," he offers Shrek a chance to live as a true ogre for a day, in return for erasing a day from his childhood that he won't recall. Shrek agrees and signs the contract, finding himself in an alternate reality where he is feared by villagers. He embraces the chance to refresh and engage in harmless mischief until he stumbles upon wanted posters of Fiona and discovers his home dilapidated. Subsequently, he is captured by witches and brought before Rumpelstiltskin, who has become the tyrannical ruler of a now dystopian Far Far Away.
Upon questioning, Shrek discovers that Rumpelstiltskin has erased the day he was born. Consequently, Shrek never rescued Fiona or encountered Donkey, allowing Rumpelstiltskin to convince Harold and Lillian to relinquish their kingdom, causing them to vanish. Rumpelstiltskin ominously warns that Shrek will disappear with the next sunrise. Shrek manages to flee Rumpelstiltskin's castle with Donkey, who is initially petrified of Shrek but grows to trust him after witnessing Shrek weep over his lost past, a display of emotion Donkey had never seen from an ogre. Once Shrek shares his plight, Donkey aids in uncovering a secret loophole: the contract's nullification through true love's kiss.
They come across a group of ogres defying Rumpelstiltskin. The ogres are commanded by Fiona, who is still under a curse. After her escape from the Tallest Tower, she has taken in a retired and overweight Puss in Boots as her pet. Shrek tries his utmost to win Fiona's affection, but she is preoccupied with orchestrating an attack on Rumpelstiltskin. She has become deeply cynical and disenchanted with the idea of true love, dedicating herself to devising Rumpelstiltskin's downfall. During a training session with Shrek, Fiona starts to warm up to him but refrains from kissing him. Puss in Boots, however, urges Shrek to persist in his courtship of Fiona.
During the ambush, the ogres are seized by the Pied Piper, but Shrek and Fiona manage to escape with Puss and Donkey's help. Shrek urges Fiona to kiss him, believing it will resolve everything; however, the kiss does not work because this version of Fiona does not truly love him. Upon learning that Rumpelstiltskin is offering a "deal of a lifetime" for Shrek's capture, Shrek surrenders himself and negotiates to free all ogres, except Fiona, as she is not fully an ogre. While imprisoned, Shrek shares stories of their children with Fiona. The captives were to be fed to a domesticated Dragon, but Donkey fails to charm his wife, who does not remember him, despite his joy. Eventually, the ogres launch an assault on the castle, rescuing the trio, fighting off the witches, and apprehending Rumpelstiltskin.
As dawn breaks, Shrek starts to vanish from existence. However, Fiona, who has fallen deeply in love with him, kisses Shrek as he fades away. This act nullifies the contract, restoring Shrek to his world just before his outburst at the birthday celebration. In this true reality, Rumpelstiltskin and his forces are obliterated within his collapsing empire, erasing them from existence. Shrek then warmly welcomes his friends and family, cherishing his life with a renewed sense of gratitude, and indeed lives happily ever after.
During the credits, there's a montage of the best moments from all the Shrek movies with "For Once in my life" by Steve Wonder playing concluding the franchise.
Cast[]
- Mike Myers as Shrek
- Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona
- Eddie Murphy as Donkey
- Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots
- Walt Dohrn as Rumpelstiltskin
- Conrad Vernon as Gingerbread Man
- Aron Warner as Wolf
- Christopher Knights as Blind Mice
- Cody Cameron as Pinocchio, Three Pigs
- Jon Hamm as Brogan the Ogre
- Craig Robinson as Cookie the Ogre
- Jane Lynch as Gretched the Ogre
- Julie Andrews as Queen Lillian
- John Cleese as King Harold
- Chris Miller as Magic Mirror, Geppetto
- Kristen Schaal as Pumpkin Witch, Palace Witch
- Mary Kay Place as Guard Witch
- Meredith Vieira as Broomsy Witch
- Kathy Griffin as Dancing Witch and Wagon Witch #1
- Lake Bell as Patrol Witch, Wagon Witch #2
- Jeremy Steig as Pied Piper
- Larry King as Doris the Ugly Stepsister
- Regis Philbin as Mabel the Ugly Stepsister
- Mike Mitchell as Witch Guard #2 and Butter Pants
- Ryan Seacrest as Father of Butter Pants
| Shrek | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shrek (2001) • Shrek 2 (2004) • Shrek the Third (2007) • Shrek Forever After (2010) | ||
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Shrek Forever After. AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved on June 12, 2017.
- ↑ Goodman, Dean. "UPDATE 1-'Shrek' sequel underperforms at box office", Reuters, Thomson Reuters, May 23, 2010. Retrieved on August 16, 2010. “"Shrek Forever After," with the voice cast including Michael Myers, Antonio Banderas, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, cost about $135 million to make. Worldwide marketing costs will be about $165 million, Globe said.”
- ↑ "'Shrek' underwhelms but tops boxoffice", The Hollywood Reporter, May 23, 2010. Retrieved on December 23, 2014. “Produced for an estimated $135 million,...”
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Shrek Forever After (2010). Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.