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This is a Shrek-style Christmas, and amazingly, it's a vast improvement on Shrek The Third.
This
yuletide tale follows Shrek as he attempts to get into the spirit
of the Christmas season (or as the politically correct police call it
"Generic Non-Religious Based Human Fun Time").
After promising
Princess Fiona (is it wrong that I have a friend who looks like the
Shrek-ish version of Fiona... perhaps I shouldn't tell her that) and
the kids a Christmas they will always remember, poor Shrek (played
again by Mike Myers, who probably phones in his performances at this
stage) is forced to take a crash course in the holiday.
But just when he thinks he has everything just right
for their quiet family Christmas, he is joined by the loudmouth Donkey,
the ever-so-cute Puss in Boots, Gingy and the rest of the gang who
decide to crash the party.
After feeling woefully underwhelmed (and a little bit ripped off) soon after forking out my cash to see Shrek 3,
the prospect of more Shrek adventures hardly seemed like a good idea to
me. Why destroy the good-will created by the first two films with half
arsed efforts?
Thankfully - Shrek The Halls delivers quite a few laughs. And real laughs too (as in, genuine funny moment) not just jokes that you can tell the writers are hoping
you are tricked into thinking are funny. Although, Shrek himself
doesn't garner a single giggle - it's the supporting cast who steal the
show.
That's right, Shrek The Halls
is worthwhile for the sole reason of the B-Team. The Gingerbread Man,
Puss In Boots, Pinocchio - they deliver every time they open their
mouths, ultimately making this one of the most enjoyable Christmas
Specials in years.
Well worth throwing on to keep the kids
occupied over the holiday season (if only because you will get a few
giggles out of it yourself).
Let's just hope that the inevitable Shrek 4 shirks using it's main characters at all and gives the B-Team their own movie. It's time for Gingy to shine!
DVD EXTRAS
There are quite a few extras here (although for some reason when
flipping through it all - it didn't seem as packed as first thought)
which should keep the kids entertained for a few hours longer.
There
are a few sing-a-long versions of songs on here (so expect to hear the
sound of out-of-tune kids wailing from your lounge), a cool set top
game in Gingy's Dunking Game as well as a DVD Rom Game Shrek Carnival Craze (which for some reason, I can never get to work).
My
favourite extra here, as odd as it sounds, is the DreamWorks Animation
Video Jukebox. It includes a featured song from all of the Dreamworks
flicks including Bee Movie, Over The Hedge and the under rated gem Flushed Away.
Good fun, great Christmas stocking stuffer.
Conclusion:
Movie 75% Extras: 75%
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