Shrek the Third Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Shrek has to find a babysitter for a kingdom and ends up with a teenage Arthurian legend reject while fighting a washed-up Prince Charming who’s having a midlife crisis.

🍿 Shrek the Third: Detailed Plot Synopsis

King Harold’s Passing and Shrek’s Dilemma

King Harold of Far Far Away passes away, leaving Shrek as the heir to the throne. Unwilling to abandon his swamp and burdened by the responsibilities of ruling, Shrek seeks a solution to avoid becoming king. Meanwhile, Fiona reveals she is pregnant, adding to Shrek’s anxiety about his future.

The Quest for Artie

Shrek, along with Donkey and Puss in Boots, embarks on a journey to find Artie, Fiona’s cousin and the next in line for the throne. Their quest takes them to Worcestershire Academy, where they discover Artie, a teenage outcast with no desire to be king. Their efforts to convince Artie are complicated by their own insecurities and fears.

Prince Charming’s Revenge

While Shrek is away, Prince Charming, fueled by past defeats and a burning desire for power, assembles a league of fairy tale villains to seize the throne of Far Far Away. He orchestrates a coup, imprisoning Fiona and the princesses, threatening the kingdom’s peace.

The Princesses’ Rebellion

Fiona, along with Queen Lillian and the other princesses (Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel), defies their captivity and form a united front. They utilize their unique skills and characteristics to fight back against Charming’s forces, showcasing their strength and independence.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Shrek (Mike Myers): The reluctant ogre is thrust into the role of heir and seeks a replacement to avoid becoming king while grappling with impending fatherhood.
• Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz): The pregnant princess must defend the kingdom from Prince Charming’s coup while grappling with Shrek’s reluctance.
• Donkey (Eddie Murphy): Shrek’s loyal, talkative companion accompanies him on his quest, providing comic relief, and is accidentally swapped into Puss in Boots’s body.
• Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas): The swashbuckling feline joins Shrek and Donkey on their adventure and experiences a body swap with Donkey.
• Artie (Justin Timberlake): The insecure teenager is destined to become king and learns to embrace his potential with Shrek’s guidance.
• Prince Charming (Rupert Everett): The vengeful prince assembles fairytale villains to seize the throne of Far Far Away.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Shrek: “Just when you think you’re happy ever after, here comes the real world.” – Expresses Shrek’s anxieties about impending fatherhood and royal duties.
• Prince Charming: “This isn’t some little peasant uprising. This is a fairy-tale revolution!” – Prince Charming rallies the fairy-tale villains to take over Far Far Away.
• Artie: “Sometimes, the things that make us different are the things that make us strong.” – Artie encourages the villains to change their ways and embrace their unique qualities.
• Donkey: “I can fly, I can fly! Oh wait, I can’t fly, I’m just standing on a bridge.” – Donkey expresses his temporary excitement after accidentally switching bodies with Dragon.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $160,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $322,719,944
• Worldwide Gross: $808,308,862

💥 Shrek the Third Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘Shrek the Third’ isn’t the best in the series, but it still has some charm! I missed the original’s cleverness but loved the princess posse kicking butt! It was awesome to see Fiona and her royal friends finally taking charge. The Merlin scenes were kinda weird, but overall, it’s a fun, lighthearted watch – perfect for a family movie night even if I slightly prefer the others.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Families looking for an animated adventure”
  • “Fans of the Shrek franchise”
  • “Viewers who enjoy fairy tale parodies”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Cartoon violence”
  • “Some mildly suggestive humor”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “While it has moments of inspired fun, Shrek the Third lacks the heart and cleverness of its predecessors, relying too heavily on tired gags and predictable storylines. The franchise feels like it’s running out of steam.
• Common Sense Media: “This ‘Shrek’ sequel has some laughs, but it’s not as fresh as the others. Some humor is definitely aimed at adults, but the overall message of being true to yourself shines through.
• Empire Magazine: “Shrek the Third is funny enough, but definitely feels like a step down from its predecessors. The jokes aren’t as sharp, and the plot feels a little recycled. Still, the animation is great, and the voice cast is as charming as ever.

Audience Reactions

The princess team-up was epic and empowering!: Many viewers enjoyed the new spin on the fairy tale princesses and their action sequences.

The ‘fatherhood nightmare’ scene was hilarious and relatable.: Parents found Shrek’s anxieties about impending fatherhood genuinely funny.

Overall Consensus: While not as critically acclaimed as the first two films, ‘Shrek the Third’ is still considered a decent family-friendly movie with entertaining moments, particularly the princess characters. It’s a fun, though somewhat weaker, addition to the Shrek franchise.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “John Cleese, who voiced King Harold, previously worked with Eric Idle (Merlin) in Monty Python.”
• “Several SNL alumni voiced the princesses including Amy Poehler as Snow White and Amy Sedaris as Cinderella.”
• “The film features a medieval high school, a parody of teen movies and high school stereotypes.”
• “The production team studied real-life baby behavior for Shrek and Fiona’s ogre triplets to make their movements and actions more authentic.”

🖥️ How to Watch Shrek the Third?

Shrek the Third is available for streaming on platforms such as Paramount+ and can be rented or purchased on services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Shrek the Third, you might like these similar films:

• Shrek 2 (2004): Continues the story of Shrek and Fiona, with similar humor and fairy-tale parodies.
• Enchanted (2007): A fairy tale princess finds herself in modern-day New York City, a similar fish-out-of-water story.
• The Sword in the Stone (1963): Focuses on a young Arthur being mentored by Merlin, as does the Artie storyline in Shrek the Third.
• Tangled (2010): A modern animated fairy tale with humor, adventure, and a strong female character.

🛒 Shrek the Third Related Products

• Shrek The Third [Blu-ray]: Relive all the ogre-the-top adventures in stunning high definition with bonus features!
• Shrek the Third Nintendo Wii Game: Join Shrek and his friends in an action-packed adventure game! Play as different characters and experience the movie’s key moments firsthand.
• Funko Pop! Movies: Shrek – Princess Fiona Ogre: A Funko Pop! collectible. Stylized collectable stands 3 ¾ inches tall, perfect for any Shrek fan!
• Shrek Movie Poster Set: Decorate any room with this colorful glossy set with images from the Shrek movies.

🎧 Soundtrack

Shrek the Third features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Royal Pain” – performed by Eels
• “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio?” – performed by The Ramones
• “Immigrant Song” – performed by Led Zeppelin
• “Barracuda” – performed by Heart
• “Live and Let Die” – performed by Paul McCartney & Wings

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Shrek but every time he takes a STEP it gets 5% faster

Get ready for a side-splitting adventure as Shrek embarks on a journey where every step sends him into a frenzy of accelerated hilarity. You won’t believe the absurd and entertaining results!

Everything Wrong With Shrek In 13 Minutes Or Less

Join CinemaSins on a witty and entertaining deep-dive into the beloved Shrek movie. Get ready for some light-hearted nitpicking and hilarious insights as they uncover the movie’s hidden flaws and humorous aspects.

we watched Shrek The Third and its the WORST…

Curious about how Shrek holds up for a grown-up audience? Check out this entertaining reaction video where the hosts relive their childhood memories of the movie and share their hilarious and honest opinions.

✨ Rate