By the time Shrek the Third (2007) premiered, I no longer understood the point.  I did not care for the first Shrek (2001), but hoped it was a passing fad.  Then they made Shrek 2 (2004) and I thought, okay, they had to make a sequel since the first earned so much money.  Again, I figured that they had to run out of material.  After all, I get it, they are a set of animated movies that make light of classic fairytales.  By continuing on, it strikes me as a case of beating a dead horse.  Of course, I would say that since I am not a fan of the franchise.  Anyway, here is what I have to say about Shrek the Third.

If Prince Charming (voiced by Rupert Everett) had any say, he would not be performing a version of his quest to claim the throne of Far Far Away at the beginning of Shrek the Third in a bar before fantastical creatures.  He is in an establishment not far from the castle where Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz) and Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) are filling in for King Harold (voiced by John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (voiced by Julie Andrews).  The king has been dying for some time, but somebody has to keep up with the affairs of state.  Unfortunately, this means Princess Fiona and Shrek, the former of which fumbles through a number of functions.  He wants nothing to do with it and looks forward to return to his swamp home.  She is keen to do so as well, but she is also planning for a family, something for which he is not ready.  In the midst of this fraught discussion, they are interrupted by messengers who inform them that King Harold is close to death.  As the monarch drifts in and out of consciousness, he tells Shrek that the ogre and his wife are the next in line, Princess Fiona being his daughter.  Shrek protests, hoping desperately that there is another option.  King Harold’s last words are to reveal a cousin, Arthur Pendragon (Justin Timberlake), who is in high school at Worcestershire High.  Thus, after the funeral, Shrek, along with Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) and Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas), set off by sea to bring Arthur back to Far Far Away.  As they set sail, Princess Fiona calls to Shrek to tell him that she is pregnant.  He tries to show that he is happy, but as he sleeps that night, he has a nightmare of being inundated by chaotic baby ogres.  This is not the only ill omen.  Feeling he has been wronged by events of the previous film, he decides he is going to take the kingdom of Far Far Away for himself.  To do so, he ventures to a pub frequented by villains and enlists their help, playing on their insecurities about being shunned by the rest of society.  Together, they make their way to the castle where Princess Fiona is having a baby shower with the other fairytale princesses.  As the attack unfolds, Princess Fiona manages to escape with the other women, and Queen Lillian, into tunnels behind the walls.  Their goal is to figure out Prince Charming plans, but they are betrayed by Rapunzel (voiced by Maya Rudolph), who is in league with Prince Charming.  Thus, Princess Fiona and the rest are thrown in jail.  As this happens, Shrek and his two companions make it to Worcestershire High School and find Arthur, even if he is originally mistaken for Lancelot (voiced by John Krasinski).  The problem is that Arthur, who everyone refers to as Artie, including himself, is considered to be a weakling.  This matters little to Shrek, who overrides the boy’s concerns by saying that King Harold had personally asked for Artie.  Hearing these words gives Artie the confidence to go with Shrek, but on the way, the boy starts having second thoughts while listening to all the duties he will be expected to perform.  It turns into Artie and Shrek wrestling over the direction of the ship, with Artie wanting to go back and Shrek insisting they carry on to Far Far Away.  The result of the struggle is them shipwrecking.  Luckily, they come ashore near the hovel in which Merlin (voiced by Eric Idle) lives.  Artie knows the legendary wizard as a former magic teacher at his school, and he has a measure of respect for Merlin.  Merlin is also a lunatic, but he does pitch in when Prince Charming’s goons find them and try to kill Shrek.  Having successfully defended themselves, Merlin magics Artie, Shrek, and the others to Far Far Away.  They get there as Prince Charming is setting up a play that will give him the happily ever after he seeks.  In short, he set a trap for Shrek, capturing the ogre.  In an attempt to protect Artie, Shrek tells Artie that King Harold had never wanted the kid, and the boy is set freed.  Donkey and Puss in Boots are imprisoned with the princesses, and this is how Princess Fiona learns of Prince Charming’s plans.  With some help from Queen Lillian, who can break through stone walls with her forehead for some reason, they are able to escape and gather their forces to stop Prince Charming.  This includes Artie, to whom Donkey and Puss in Boots explain why Shrek said what he did.  When Shrek appears on stage with Prince Charming, his humor is what first disarms the crowd.  In fact, Shrek is to be released when Prince Charming brings out the villains and a battle is about to commence.  It is Arthur that steps into the breech at this moment, urging peace and telling everyone that the villains deserve a second chance.  With this, he is made king and Princess Fiona and Shrek are allowed to return to the swamp to start their family.

There is an end credits sequence in Shrek the Third sequence showing Princess Fiona and Shrek getting used to their new roles as parents.  There is a Catholic comment to be made on their family.  While Shrek may not initially be open to having children, Princess Fiona reflects Church teaching in her desire to welcome as many children with which God blesses them.  What changes Shrek’s mind is his interactions with Artie.  The ogre unwittingly mentors the future king, and it is this guidance that convinces Artie to accept kingship.  A Christian father’s duty is to help get their children and spouse to Heaven.  This can also be extended to the kinds of relationships we see between Artie and Shrek.  True love is seeking what is best for the other, a type of feeling for another called agape.  It is the highest form of love, the kind that moves God to give His only son, Jesus, to die for the sins of all humanity so that it might be redeemed.  There are smaller ways we can emulate this sacrifice, such as Shrek basically telling Artie off in order to save the boy from Prince Charming’s wrath.  To get into that frame of mind takes dying to self, something you will hear a lot in a Church setting.  This does not mean suicide.  Instead, it refers to selflessness, putting others before yourself.  It is a noble goal, but it can be tricky.  We all have needs, and not all of them are sinful.  For instance, it is not bad that Shrek wants to spend more time with Princess Fiona instead of immediately having to look after children.  What God would ask of us is whether that inclination is a selfish one.  If this applies to you, I recommend praying on it.

I could also offer prayers that Shrek the Third is the last, but that would be a pointless supplication.  There is one more until whenever Shrek 5 is released.  As such, it looks like I will complete the franchise long before that one.  Please take this however you want as my recommendation.