Shrek the Third

** Stars

What the hell happened?

What happened to the brilliance that made the Oscar-winning original and strong sequel so original? What happened to the story that was driven on dialogue and not on vomit jokes?

There is no reason for Shrek the Third to be made except to say it has the biggest opening ever for an animated film and the 3rd of all time (at around $122 Million). All the gags are recylced for trashy animated films we would expect from films like Happily Never After or The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2. The Shrek franchise went from true orginality to the epidemy of an overcooked sewage rat.

King Harold, Fiona's father, has suddenly croaked and Shrek (voicing inspired by Mike Myers) is quickly fitted for the crown. Now, unless the reluctant would-be king can find a suitable replacement, he'll take over. As if Shrek didn't have enough on his plate, Princess Fiona is pregnant (imagine that image). With his head spinning and his belly in knots, Shrek sets off on a quest to find the only other possible heir to the throne, Fiona's long-lost cousin Artie, an underachieving medieval high schooler. While the ogre is away, his old nemesis Prince Charming rears his handsome head and returns to the kingdom of Far Far Away to prove once again he is the rightful aire to the throne...

Yawn.

Even Donkey (Eddie Murphy), one of the most energentic animated characters in history seems to just sit around next to Puss N' Boots (Antonio Banderas) and both make pointless wise cracking remarks. Why not explore more of Puss N' Boots history or bring back some old characters, because they may have saved this movie from being the sappiest thing since an episode of Maury.

Why is this summer starting off as a dissapointment? Jack Sparrow, you are our last hope.