Up until I saw footage from this film, I was in the ‘another sequel is unnecessary’ category of fans.  I’ve always found the Shrek films to be highly entertaining affairs, filled with a brand of humor that could satisfy both kids and adults without either being the wiser.  Shrek the Third left a bad taste in my mouth however.  It didn’t espouse the same light-hearted qualities of the others.  It was just a little too dark, and for some reason gave me the feeling I was watching a drama with comedic relief, not the other way around.  

The third film made me wonder where they had lost the magic, and why the central theme had been changed so drastically.  Sure there were some great gags in there, but overall it lost its touch.  Needless to say the announcement of a fourth film didn’t exactly get me fired up, and I was more than willing to discount it; leaving it for Netflix whenever it hit DVD.  

Then I saw some footage.  Even the movie trailer gives off the same feeling as the first two films.  The same whimsical, light-hearted quality appears to be back in an entirely new adventure.  This story revolves around Shrek beginning to feel a little too…domesticated.  No longer is he the scourge of the countryside, but a local legend; a hero.  In order to regain his glory days Shrek seeks out the aid of Rumpelstiltskin (voiced by Walt Dohrn).  Instead of receiving help, Shrek is transported into an alternate Far, Far Away where he never existed.  He finds Fiona is now the feared ogre of the swamp, Donkey is working in hard labor, Puss ‘n Boots has let himself grow fat, and Rumpelstiltskin is now the King.   

I enjoy the new premise as it’s so vastly different from the others, which shows they are trying to keep from growing stale.  I must say, I literally had tears in my eyes at seeing the overweight Puss ‘n Boots in action.  While there is still plenty of room for error in this last outing, from what I’ve seen I think DreamWorks can deliver one more great Shrek adventure before it’s put out to pasture.  

Bringing another all star cast together (Cameron Diaz, Mike Meyers, Regis Philbin, Kathy Griffin, Larry King, Justin Timberlake, and Eric Idle to name a few) this film opens up May 21, 2010.