Shrek (Mike Myers), Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas), and Donkey (Eddie Murphy), have a mission; to find a new king for the land of Far, Far Away. The choices are Shrek or his wife’s cousin Artie (Justin Timberlake). Shrek does not want the job and Artie is a slacker, who may have the skills but whose mind is not up to the task.

Prince Charming (Rupert Everett), who is anything but charming, is out to thwart either Shrek or Artie from becoming the new king. He’s a boring supper club actor that falls into the category of a has been who never was. Later, using some scenes that seemed right out of the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter films (walking trees and characters flying about in the sky), the confrontation occurs.

The key characters in the film are appealing, especially Puss in Boots. While he is fresher than ever, Donkey is not very funny to us. He isn’t his kick--- self until the credits roll and Eddie Murphy’s singing is as spirited as his role in Dreamgirls. 

Aimed squarely at children, Shrek the Third uses multiple and repeated references to classic characters, such as the Three Little Pigs, Pinocchio, et al. There is one outstanding piece of dialogue regarding Pinocchio and his efforts to keep his nose from growing.  

Humor geared to adults in the audience swings toward what it means to be parents for the first time, and women rising up to burn their bras. Fiona (Cameron Diaz) has a bit of difficulty breaking the news to Shrek about their soon to be parenthood. Although these items do offer some smiles, the smart, snappy, funny stuff for adults that came across in Shrek and Shrek 2 is missing. The plot effectively targets kids while falling flat for adults.

That said, the film is heads and shoulders above a Pokeman or Rugrats movie. Unfortunately, it falls prey to the evil of sequels; that feeling of déjà vu, all over again.