'Shrek' continues its success

“Shrek Forever After,” the fourth installment of ogre fairy tales directed by Mike Mitchell, is truly disappointment-proof.

The film begins with the signature storybook reading by an unfamiliar voice, which, we later realize, is that of Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn). A brief backstory of the first film introduces Rumpelstiltskin as a sort of fairy godfather who writes up magical contracts — each one with strings attached. An exhausted and perturbed Shrek (Mike Myers), overwhelmed by his infant children and newfound popularity with the villagers of Far Far Away, signs one of Rumpelstiltskin’s agreements, later realizing it creates a world where he doesn’t exist.

The plot includes twists and turns galore, including a plate of waffles that leads to an underground ogre army that features Fiona (Cameron Diaz) as its leader. An overweight version of Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) provides comic relief, and Rumpelstiltskin becomes the dynamic villain with quirky tendencies — he wears flashy wigs reflecting his various moods. 

All in all, the film merges adult and child humor as in the previous three films and never feels overdone.