Perturbing news from the land of Far Far Away: the world’s favourite ogre is not quite the monster he used to be. Shrek, the lumbering, green-skinned giant with a Scottish accent and a flatulence problem, has lost much of his humour and vulgarity and come over all introspective. Reviews for Shrek the Third, the latest animated instalment of the life of the ogre, all concur it’s a stinker.

Shrek, whose name is believed to come from Yiddish or German words meaning fear, is a grumpy but essentially good-natured beast who lives in a swamp in an enchanted forest. Although his instinct is for a life of solitude he has been dragged into all manner of adventures. He has rescued princesses from castles, fought ferocious dragons and rubbed shoulders with just about every fairytale legend going.

He is a monster mellowed by his discovery of love and friendship. After he rescued the beautiful Princess Fiona and a few ensuing twists and turns, the couple were married. Out of love for her man the princess opted to become a fully fledged ogress. Previously she turned green only after dark.

Shrek’s relations with his inlaws have been strained. His father-in-law was the King of Far Far Away and at one time hired Puss in Boots as a hitman to take out his daughter’s lover. But Shrek and the would-be assassin became chums. His closest mate is Donkey, an annoying talking ass.

BACKGROUND

• Shrek the Third

• Shrek the Third

• Game Review - Shrek The Third

• Shrek turns to shrink

• How an ogre became a cash cow . . . and a turkey

BACKGROUND

• Shrek 2

• Shrek Review: they've created a monster

Antonio Banderas – he’s a cool cat

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Multimedia

• Pictures: Shrek The Third premier

Related Internet Links

• 2007 London Film Festival coverage

• Times Online Film Trailers

Shrek’s exploits have been brought to a world audience through a phenomenally successful series of films employing the latest computer-generated animation techniques. Mike Myers is the voice of the monster, with Cameron Diaz as his princess, Eddie Murphy enjoying the best one-liners as Donkey and John Cleese as the king. The first movie, Shrek, won an Oscar for Best Animated feature in 2001. The quality of the animation and the witty scripts made the first two films a hit with young audiences, adults and critics alike.

Shrek the Third focuses on whether the hero will inherit his father-in-law’s throne and the imminent arrival of Shrek Jr. But the movie has a new director and the critics have not been kind. Variety said that while still eccentric and full of mirth “the irascible green ogre begins to show signs of encroaching middle age”. “Flat and pointless,” blasted the review website Rotten Tomatoes. “He isn’t funny any more. The ill-tempered ogre of the first film has been softened into a mild grump.” His antisocial tendencies have, apparently, been toned down and he is prone to introspection.

Nevertheless, this will not be the last we see of Shrek. Already a fourth film is in the pipeline, a Christmas TV special is planned and a musical is heading for Broadway and eventually, doubtless, the West End. There appears to be no end in sight for the monstrous exploitation of this franchise.