Shrek The Third parents guide

Shrek The Third Parent Guide

Overall B

While some men dream of fame, fortune and power, Shrek (voice of Mike Myers) has his heart set on living out his days obscurely in the swamp he calls home. So when it looks like his royal father-in-law (John Cleese) might croak, which would put him next in line for the throne, the ogre nearly turns green (okay, more green than usual). In order to avoid such an unwelcome future, Shrek gets help form his faithful friends Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas).

Release date May 17, 2007

Violence C+
Sexual Content B
Profanity A-
Substance Use C-

Why is Shrek The Third rated PG? The MPAA rated Shrek The Third PG for some crude humor, suggestive content and swashbuckling action.

Parent Movie Review

Lumbering, ornery ogres have never had it so good. Fated to be the bad guys in almost every tale, they could only dream of hero status until Shrek came along giving audiences a dose of the unexpected. Lampooning tired stereotypes, Hollywood movies and conventional fairytales, this odorous monster from the swamp fell in love with a cursed princess who chose to remain an ogre herself.

Since then, Shrek (voice by Mike Myer) has made the trek to the kingdom of Far, Far Away. He’s met his new bride’s regal parents (voices by John Cleese and Julie Andrews) and been presented in the royal court. Now all the big, green ogre wants to do is take his wife Fiona (voice by Cameron Diaz) back to the bog where they can live in peace among the fungus and swamp rats.

That ambition, however, threatens to vanish when King Harold croaks. As heirs-apparent, Shrek and Fiona are next in line to be the new sovereigns unless the unhappy ogre can find Fiona’s cousin Artie (voice by Justin Timberlake) and convince him to take the throne. Traveling to the land of Worcestershire with his sidekicks, Donkey (voice by Eddie Murphy) and Puss-In-Boots (voice by Antonio Banderas), Shrek plucks the reluctant, tormented teenager out of high school and packs him back to the palace. But in the meantime, an affronted and overconfident Prince Charming (voice by Rupert Everett) has rallied an army of fairytale villains to orchestrate an attack on the castle and install him as the new ruler of Far, Far Away.

While still packing it’s share of jokes and parodies (like the lingering, drawn-out, protracted death scene of the king), the script’s pacing lacks the kind of sparkle and snap audiences have come to expect from the crabby swamp dweller and his tag-a-longs. Whether it’s Shrek’s concern over impending parenthood or Donkey’s preoccupation with his kids, these two wisecracking guys appear to be settling into the mid-life doldrums. Although adults may relate to the characters’ concerns, there is less time for punch lines aimed at kids.

Exposing a different side of Shrek (only brief buttock nudity is seen), the movie sidesteps some of the sexual innuendos played out in previous films, however it depicts a group of high school students stumbling out of a smoke-filled chariot where they’ve been sharing a joint between classes. A lit cigarette in an ashtray and references to being high on drugs are also shown. (Considering the MPAA’s recent attack on smoking in PG-13 movies, this appears entirely out of place in a PG film.) Rough swordplay and brief hand-to-hand fighting occur as well when the villains attack the castle. And after being captured by soldiers, Shrek is chained up and prepped to be run through by the nasty Prince Charming in front of the whole kingdom.

Reshuffling the level of content concerns found in earlier Shrek flicks, this third installment waffles between the cliche three strikes you’re out (shortage of jokes and underplayed use of Murphy’s talent) and third time’s the charm (a satchel full of life lessons about accepting oneself and embracing new challenges).

Starring Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Julie Andrews, Antonio Bandera. Theatrical release May 17, 2007. Updated

Shrek The Third
Rating & Content Info

Why is Shrek The Third rated PG? Shrek The Third is rated PG by the MPAA for some crude humor, suggestive content and swashbuckling action.

Despite the PG rating, this film briefly (but heavily) implies teens are partaking of illegal drugs, and contains cigarettes (a brief shot shows a smoke smoldering in an ashtray) and alcohol use as well as brief drug references. After the king dies, an attempt to overthrow the kingdom of Far, Far Away results in the city being pillaged by villains who capture Fiona and her princess friends and throw them in the dungeon. Shrek and his buddies are attacked by pirates and animated trees who later capture the ogre and chain him up. One of Shrek’s fans is shot in the chest with an arrow and Artie has a sword held to his throat. Several characters are impaled, slashed or beheaded by swords (limited view of the action). The script includes infrequent sexual references, a cross-dressing princess, brief buttock nudity and some scatological terms.

Page last updated

Shrek The Third Parents' Guide

Why is Shrek so nervous about becoming a parent? How does his own experience with his father affect the way he feels? What does he learn from his interaction with Artie?

What impact do the students at Artie’s school have on him? Why is it important to believe in oneself despite the opinions of others? Does he learn to accept his role in life?

In what ways is Fiona different than the other princesses? How does she react to Prince Charming’s plans to take over the kingdom? How does she meet challenges in her life?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Shrek The Third movie is November 12, 2007. Here are some details…

If you can’t get enough of Shrek-even after this third helping, then the DVD release of Shrek the Third is just for you. Plenty of extra materials are dished up, such as additional scenes (The Fauxly Grail, Hot Lunch and Cyrano De Artie), an audio commentary with the cast, a featurette (Tech of SHREK 3), music videos (Dancing Babies and Donkey Dance), interactive games (Learn The Donkey Dance and How To Be Green), trailers and a text/photo gallery (Shrek’s Guide To Parenthood). There are DVD-ROM offerings as well, including printables, weblinks and activities (Royal Tournament Games and Shrek Smash Ups). Audio tracks are available in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround ( English, French and Spanish) and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English, French and Spanish), with subtitles in French and Spanish.

Related home video titles:

In Happily N’Ever After, discarded fairytale villains take an active role in re-writing stories in their favor. While pirates make an appearance in Shrek the Third, the captain and his cronies have to settle things once and for all with Peter Pan in the movie Hook. Don’t forget to check out our reviews of the first two movies, Shrek and Shrek 2.

Related news about Shrek The Third

The Sound of Music Stars Celebrate Long Careers in the Movie Business

The Sound of Music Stars Celebrate Long Careers in the Movie Business

{parents:pull_quote}

St. Patrick’s Day Movies

St. Patrick’s Day Movies

{parents:pull_quote}