Ask most people who have seen the animated Shrek films what they think of them and the response is usually the same. They loved the first two but despised Shrek the 3rd. So with the release of the latest and supposedly last installment, Shrek Forever After, the hope is that the magic of the earlier ones will return and everyone can live happily ever after with fond memories. But for that to happen there must be more of the sharp wit aimed at older audiences along with solid fairy tale characters.

In the new edition Shrek (Mike Myers) is a family man; married to the lovely, green Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and raising three young mini-ogres. His life is no longer filled with angry villagers chasing him with pitchforks or running for their lives. In fact he has become sort of a local celebrity. Call it midlife crises if you want but this new lease on life isn’t setting well. He longs for his days as a fear inducing, mud bath taking monster. When he strikes a deal with a conniving Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn) to have one more day of glory he learns a lesson about contentment and almost destroys Far Far Way for good.

This film is certainly far far and away better than the last Shrek film. It at least allows Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) a chance to shine again. The rest of the familiar faces are more like cameos than solid players. In an “It’s a Wonderful Life” type way this one shows Shrek what life would have been like had he never rescued Fiona and had gone on living his Ogre life. That twist of plot gives them freedom to utilize the characters in different ways. The humor is lacking though and all of the funny lines seem more a rehash of older jokes. Donkey (Eddie Murphy) is able to get in a few jabs that will land on the funny bone of the adults; but those are too rare to make a difference.

Shrek is rated PG for mild action, some rude humor and brief language. If you have seen any of the past three you know what to expect. Of course this one is in 3D like everything else. It doesn’t benefit it at all and you are just as well off seeing it in normal 2D. My advice is not to spend the extra coin just to wear the glasses. They are annoying and add nothing to the film. Shrek Forever After gets 2.75 out of 5 ear horns. Though the laugh out loud moments are truly hilarious there is just not enough of them to make the film a hit. Sure there is a good message about loving where you are but not sure this is the place and time. If you have never seen any of the Shrek films, go watch the first two and be done with it. It is time to close the book on Shrek and let him retire in peace. So says Matt Mungle.