Shrek the Third is the - you guessed it - the third entry in the popular computer animated franchise, and aside from the fact that it made $125 million in it's opening weekend, there isn't anything particularly memorable about it.

In Shrek the Third, the lovable ogre (Mike Myers) has adjusted to married life and is perfectly content with bride Fiona (Cameron Diaz). Problems arise when King Harold (John Cleese) takes ill and informs Shrek that he is the heir to the thrown. Uninterested in a life in the spotlight and even more uninterested in leaving his beloved swamp, the green one sets out on a journey with Donkey (Eddie Murphey) and Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas), to seek the aid of Fiona's young, rebellious cousin Artie and convince him that he is the rightful king of Far, Far Away.

Meanwhile, a pregnant Fiona joins forces with a few famous fairy tale princesses in an attempt to keep a villainous Prince Charming from taking over the land.

The original Shrek had a fresh, hip quality about it. It took fairy tale legends and twisted them ever so lightly, and the film was edgy to boot. The end result was terrific entertainment for folks of all ages. With the sequel, the edge was slightly worn off, but the movie was still pretty appealing. Shrek the Third is a "go through the motions" sequel if ever there were. The novelty has pretty much worn off and what was once clever and endearing is now trite and stale.

Film makers Chris Miller and Raman Hui have stuck to the Shrek formula. They've basically tweaked old school fairy tales, but in this film, I didn't care for the tweaking. In particular, I was positively annoyed by Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel. These Disney darlings have been transformed into shrill, selfish brats with bad attitudes, and while I suppose that's the joke, it wasn't funny to me. Other gags fall flat as well. Be it the valley girl high school castle schtick, the scene in which Puss In Boots and Donkey switch identities (a tired gag that's being duplicated in the upcoming Fantastic 4 sequel), or the odd choice to blare Live and Let Die after King Harold... croaks - he's a frog. Get it? Most of this stuff simply doesn't work.

Even an all star cast headed by Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Justin Timberlake, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Larry King, Eric Idle, Ian McShane, and Seth Rogen can't elevate the proceedings above this all-pervasive inanity.

There's some terrific bits with the Gingerbread Man and Pinocchio, and Puss In Boots is still a riot, but for the most part, this film lacks energy. Donkey, who used to be the go to supporting player, isn't given much to do here. Even Shrek himself seems a bit shortchanged. He used to be the star, and now he comes across as an afterthought. Furthermore, he doesn't even act like an ogre anymore. He's just a big, green goofball of a device who spouts words of wisdom when he isn't making an ass out of himself.

This isn't a bad film. The animations is still top notch, and there are some scattershot laughs but overall, Shrek the Third doesn't leave much of an impression. With it's sappy, heavy handed themes of the importance of being yourself, and the power of family, this flick plays more like a Disney channel sitcom.