Shrek Goes Fourth Plot Synopsis?
DreamWorks Animated Film Stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy
Feb 23, 2009
As animation fans most likely know, the biggest showdown in CGI animation will be happening during the summer of 2010, when the genre's biggest franchises – Disney/Pixar's Toy Story and DreamWorks Animation's Shrek – go head-to-head to determine which studio has the most beloved series.
A likely plot description for Toy Story 3 surfaced back in February of 2008, and now it's Shrek Goes Fourth's turn to have its story revealed. Blogger Alex Litel discovered a copyright preregistration for the film that included the possible plot description, that he describes as "likely innovative and thrilling" (possible snarkiness there?).
Shrek Goes Fourth Possible Plot Description
"After challenging an evil dragon, rescuing a beautiful princess and saving your in-laws' kingdom, what's an ogre to do?
"Well, if you're Shrek (Mike Myers), you suddenly wind up a domesticated family man. Instead of scaring villagers away like he used to, a reluctant Shrek now agrees to autograph pitch forks. What's happened to this ogre's roar? Longing for the days when he felt like a "real ogre," Shrek is duped into signing a pact with the smooth-talking dealmaker, Rumplestiltskin (Tom Cruise?). Shrek suddenly finds himself in a in a twisted, alternate version of Far Far Away, where ogres are hunted, Rumplestiltskin is king and Shrek and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) have never met. Now, it's up to Shrek to undo all he's done in the hopes of saving his friends, restoring his world and reclaiming his one True Love."
Sharp-eyed viewers will notice a suspicious similarity to Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, where Jimmy Stewart found himself in an alternate universe where he had never influenced the world for good.
That ironically gives this report some credibility, since plundering previous cinematic works for fun and profit is old hat for the Shrek series. You might remember that the 2001 movie was initially born out of DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg's rage after getting tossed from Disney, and the series has featured nods to everything from The Little Mermaid to Aliens.
However, it contravenes an interview that Katzenberg had with IMDb, where he discussed Shrek Goes Fourth.
"Ultimately we will come back to understand how Shrek arrived in that swamp," Katzenberg told Australian newspaper The Age in May of 2007. "We will reveal his story."
There's also a rumour (courtesy of Digital Spy) that musician/occasional actor Sir Paul McCartney would voice an as-yet undisclosed character in the film. If that's true, McCartney will join Myers, Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Larry King, Eric Idle, Regis Philbin, Justin TImberlake and half of Hollywood in voicing characters for the Shrek series.
Shrek Versus Toy Story: Which Franchise Will Prevail?
Who will win in the Summer of 2010's Clash of the CGI Animated Titans?
From a critical perspective, Toy Story 3 definitely has the edge. The previous films in the franchise were critical and audience favourites and Disney/Pixar has been smart enough not to overplay the series or the characters. Director/Disney creative chief John Lasseter has also been firm about making sure any Toy Story movie doesn't proceed until the story is locked down, even trashing a potential script from Disney's short-lived Circle Eight imprint because it didn't meet his standards for the series.
Toy Story 3 will likely continue the theme of abandonment touched briefly in the "Jessie's Song" sequence in 1999's Toy Story 2, which may run a little dark for parents' tastes.
In contrast, DreamWorks Animation has been working Shrek as hard as it possibly can. 2004's Shrek 2 earned $919.8 million worldwide, becoming the highest grossing animated film of all time. 2007's Shrek the Third, despite scathing reviews, earned $798.9 million worldwide. While the franchise has been a boon for DreamWorks Animation's bottom line, it has also led to charges that Shrek has jumped the shark.
There was also a 2007 Christmas special, Shrek the Halls, and a Broadway musical based on the film, all of which have done well. That adds up to a lot of incentive for Katzenberg to keep the series going, despite repeated claims that the 5th Shrek film will be the last.
Whether the series' perceived creative bankruptcy will impact Shrek Goes Fourth's receipts remains to be seen. While both franchises will certainly make money at the box office, the financial edge seems to go in Shrek's direction, unless audiences suddenly decide to desert the series in droves.
Shrek Goes Fourth comes out on May 21st, 2010 while Toy Story 3 is due June 18th of that same year.
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