Mike Mitchell
Shrek - E Vissero Felici e Contenti

As a child of consumerism, aware of my role, I couldn't abstain, so last night I went to the cinema to pay tribute to the fourth installment of a series that has been a global hit. Remembering how much I laughed at the first one, how much I chuckled at the second, how much I smiled at the third... I settled into my seat with the right amount of skepticism but also somewhat hopeful to have an enjoyable evening, the main goal for someone investing 7 euros (x 2 obviously) for shows of this kind.

Of the 29 trailers shown before the start, 31 were of upcoming animated films. "from the creators of Shrek..." "from the creators of UP..." good grief! isn't it that actors are starting to ask for too much money? Well, anyway, let’s postpone the socio\psico\fanky\cinematographic comment (also due to evident lack of expertise) and at last, after 47 gross minutes of commercials, enjoy the latest installment of the saga in question.

Without revealing the plot, I applaud the writers who, for once, have earned their salary. The risk of twisting in on themselves was evident, but the basic idea allows the audience to enjoy the now famous characters from different angles than usual, and it's quite intriguing. The cliché is ultimately the same, but the underlying idea helps to accept it with the right curiosity.

There are enough laughs, not to be held back, but no more than a couple of times. A super predictable ending as per tradition, so no surprises. The final choreography on the usual "I'm a believer" by Smash Mouth is missing, and it's a shame. Otherwise, I'd highlight a pleasant plot that flows quickly, funny gags, and the right amount of "morality" useful, I believe, mostly for the little ones.

Ultimately, the last episode could have gone much worse. 7 euros invested in a decent way, for those who don't have too high expectations and want to have a chuckle.

PS: I saw the Shrek 1 musical on Broadway, which should still be on the playbill. A SHOW, in that case, truly PHENOMENAL. I recommend it to everyone if you happen to be over there.