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While there’s
no denying that the original “Shrek”
film was fresh and funny, with jokes and
sight gags coming fast and furious…
there is also no use in denying that the
follow-up films have been a little less
so. The two sequels, while still amusing
felt as though the writers were trying way
too hard to capture the magic of the first.
Now Dreamworks is attempting to corner the
Christmas market with a short Shrek film,
first by airing it on TV a few short weeks
ago and now releasing it to DVD. The hopes
are to get parents to open up their already
depleted coffers and buy something a little
more substantial than a Shrek Happy Meal.
“Shrek the Halls” reunites Mike
Meyers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio
Banderas with the realization that all of
their careers are pretty much on the wane.
Had they all been the superstars they once
had been, it is very doubtful that (with
the exception of Banderas) any of them would
have done...shudder… TV. In the case
of Murphy, I am glad to see that he can
still get work and that he gets it by way
of doing voiceovers.
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Admittedly he has become an actor better heard
and not scene and he has not done anything live
action of note in almost 20 years. Well, at least
anything resembling humor. But in his voiceover
work, he has been nothing less than brilliant.
This short being a good case in point.
The plot of “Shrek the Halls” is as
one would expect. Shrek knows nothing of, nor
does he care about Christmas. But with the realization
that Christmas does mean a lot to Fiona and the
little baby ogres, he sets out to plan the perfect
holiday celebration for his family. Unfortunately,
Donkey considers EVERYONE they know to be part
of the family and infringes on Shrek’s quiet
plans with a raucous party plan of his own. The
debacle that follows offers up the usual quick
bits of humor as well as various mini-versions
of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”,
the funniest being told by Puss ‘N’
Boots (Banderas). Of course, Shrek… being
Shrek… loses his cool and ends the party
rather abruptly causing Fiona to unjustly accuse
him of being mean to his friends. You can probably
guess where the story goes from there.
Admittedly, I’d have to say that “Shrek
the Halls” was much funnier than I expected,
so much so that the 22 minute running time felt
way too short. However, for all of the laughs
it offered it was still far short of the “Instant
Holiday Classic” tag line that is printed
on the DVD case. ‘Classic’ is a word
used a little too often with films nowadays and
it should really be held back and used with a
little more reverence to those films truly deserving.
Plus, as funny as it may be, the humor is really
still more for much older kids. Younger children
really don’t need any more doses of sarcastic
humor than they are already fed.
The DVD for “Shrek the Halls” comes
with only a couple of extras in the form of short
sing-along music videos and a couple of games.
Nothing that really warrants the full price cost
of a new DVD, especially considering the length
of the short film itself.
Director: Gary Trousdale
Starring (the voices of): Mike Meyers, Cameron
Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas
Extras: 12 Days of Christmas Sing Along, Deck
The Halls Sing Along, Gingy's Dunking Game, Shrek
Carnival Craze Video Game Demo & Cheat Code,
Dreamworks Animation Video Juxebox
Specifications: Full Screen / Widescreen
Studio: Dreamworks
Release Date: 11/4/2008
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
We'll give Shrek the Halls a C+.
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