What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that like all Shrek movies, this "final chapter" includes some cartoonish violence, mild innuendo most children won't pick up on, and a scene in which Shrek gets tipsy on shaken "Eyeball-tinis." The mild peril is mostly medieval fighting between the ogres and Rumpelstiltskin's cabal of witches. Shrek and Fiona, as well as Donkey and his dragon wife, are all affectionate and flirt and kiss and declare their eternal love to each other. The gross-out humor is limited to some disgusting items the ogres eat and a few jokes about Donkey and the ogres, but otherwise, this is an animated movie for general audiences. Be warned, though, Shrek has a lot of merchandising tie-ins, so the consumerism is difficult to escape. Also, since it's offered in 3-D, a few scenes are more intense than they'd be otherwise.
- Families can talk about the message of this installment of the story -- is the grass always greener on the other side, or is it best to love your life and not that life you could have lived?
- Shrek merchandise can be found everywhere. Does it cheapen a movie to have so many toys and food items attached to it, or is it simply a sign of how popular the movie is? If you like Shrek, does seeing him on products make you want to buy them more? How can you avoid getting sucked into the commercialism?
- Is time-warp Fiona different than ogre-mama Fiona? Has Fiona always displayed bravery and leadership skills? What kinds of stereotypes about men and women does the movie challenge or reinforce?
- How does this movie compare with the previous three? Is it best for Fiona and Shrek to retire in Far, Far Away, or are there even more stories to tell?