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It ain't ogre... til it's ogre
―Tagline

Shrek Forever After (originally known as Shrek Goes Forth and also known as Shrek: The Final Chapter or Shrek 4 or Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter) is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure comedy film. It is the fourth in the Shrek franchise, produced by DreamWorks Animation. The film premiered on April 21, 2010 at the Tribeca Film Festival, and was released by Paramount Pictures on May 21, 2010 in the United States. It was also released in 3D and IMAX 3D formats.

Taking place after Shrek the Third, Shrek is now a family man and beloved among the local villagers. Yearning for the days when he was feared, he makes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin and accidentally wipes out his entire existence. To restore his existence, Shrek has to regain Fiona's love and kiss her before the sun rises, or he will disappear forever.

Despite receiving polarized reviews from film critics, the film was positively welcomed by the audience and was a box office success. It was the #1 film in the United States and Canada for three consecutive weeks and has grossed a worldwide total of $752 million. Additionally, Shrek Forever After is DreamWorks Animation's second highest-grossing film at the foreign box office.

Plot[]

Before Shrek and Donkey rescue Princess Fiona in the first film, King Harold and Queen Lillian – desperate to lift their daughter's curse – meet with con artist Rumpelstiltskin, who wishes to become King of Far Far Away in exchange for helping them. But before the deal is signed, Harold and Lillian learn that Fiona has been rescued. Rumpelstiltskin is then shown to have become washed up as a result and subsequently bitter towards Shrek for inadvertently ruining his plans.

In the present, Shrek has steadily grown tired of being a family man and celebrity among the local villagers, leading him to yearn for the days when he felt like a "real ogre". He takes his family to Far Far Away to celebrate his children's first birthday. Due to a series of mishaps (particularly the fact that the birthday cakes were decorated with a "cute" Ogre named "Sprinkles"), Shrek loses his temper, roars at the public, smashes the second cake (in which the first one was eaten by the pigs) and walks out in anger. He and Fiona argue outside about his reaction, which ends with Shrek rashly but falsely agreeing that he was happier before he'd rescued her.

After storming off, Shrek encounters Rumpelstiltskin. Rumpel, who had observed Shrek's angry outburst with Fiona, seizes his chance. He follows Shrek and arranges what appears to be an accident where he is trapped under his carriage. Shrek helps him, and Rumpel being "grateful", gives Shrek a ride and a meal. When Shrek voices his frustrations, Rumpel offers Shrek a day to live like a real ogre in exchange for a day from his childhood that he would not remember being erased. Shrek signs the contract and appears in a reality where he is still feared by villagers. He takes the opportunity to cause some mischief until he finds wanted posters for the ogress Fiona and his home deserted and desolate. He is kidnapped by witches and taken to Rumpelstiltskin, now the King of Far Far Away and possibly Emperor of a good deal more, which has become derelict and run down. Rumpelstiltskin uses ogres (and some of Shrek's friends) for slavery.

Upon inquiry, Rumpelstiltskin reveals that the day he erased was the day that Shrek was born. Therefore, Shrek never saved Fiona, never met Donkey, and consequently Rumpelstiltskin was able to get Harold and Lillian to sign their kingdom away, then cause them to disappear. When the day ends, Shrek will fade from existence as well. Shrek escapes Rumpelstiltskin's castle with Donkey. Initially terrified of Shrek, Donkey decides to trust him after seeing Shrek cry over his erased history, something he had never seen an ogre do before. After Shrek explains the situation Do the Roar, Donkey helps him find a loophole: the contract will be nullified if Shrek and Fiona share true love's kiss. They soon encounter a band of ogres who are resisting Rumpelstiltskin. The ogres are led by Fiona, who is still cursed after escaping from the tower where she was held captive, and keeps the retired and overweight Puss in Boots as a pet.

Shrek does everything he can to gain Fiona's love, but she is bitterly cynical and disillusioned about the power of true love and throws herself into planning Rumpelstiltskin's capture. While sparring with her, Fiona begins to like Shrek, but stops short of kissing him. Shrek is discouraged, but Puss encourages him to continue pursuing Fiona. During the ambush, the ogres are captured by the Pied Piper, though Shrek and Fiona managed to escape with the intervention of Puss and Donkey. Shrek insists Fiona kiss him, saying it will fix everything, but because Fiona still does not truly love him; it is ineffective. She insists it's all a sunshine-and-flowers fairy tale.

Upon hearing that Rumpelstiltskin is offering anything desired by the one who captures Shrek, Shrek surrenders himself in exchange for "all ogres" being released. Fiona remains in custody because, as Rumpelstiltskin points out, she is not "all ogre" (only by night, not by day). Shrek and Fiona are to be fed to Dragon, but Donkey, Puss and the ogres raid Rumpelstiltskin's castle, allowing Shrek and Fiona to both subdue Dragon and capture Rumpelstiltskin. As the sun rises, Shrek begins to fade from existence. But Fiona, having fallen in love with him, kisses him just before he disappears, thereby voiding the contract and restoring the world to just before Shrek originally lashed out at everyone. Shrek embraces his friends and family with a newfound appreciation for everything he has, truly living happily ever after.

During the credits, a nostalgic pop-out storybook style of pictures recaps Shrek's adventures with Donkey, Puss, and Fiona during the first three films to Stevie Wonder's For Once In My Life.

Cast[]

Music[]

  • One Love
  • Birthday Bash
  • Click Click
  • Darling I Do
  • I'm A Believer
  • For Once In My Life

Production[]

Following the success of Shrek 2, a third and fourth Shrek film, along with plans for a final, fifth film, were announced in May 2004 by Jeffrey Katzenberg: "Shrek 3 and 4 are going to reveal other unanswered questions and, finally, in the last chapter, we will understand how Shrek came to be in that swamp, when we meet him in the first movie." In October 2006, DreamWorks Animation revealed that the fourth film will be released in 2010.

Katzenberg announced a title for the fourth film in October 2007, Shrek Goes Fourth, explaining that "Shrek goes out into the world, forth!" However, in May 2009, DreamWorks Animation retitled the film to Shrek Forever After, indicating that it would be the last in the Shrek series. In November, Bill Damaschke, head of creative production at DreamWorks Animation, confirmed with "All that was loved about Shrek in the first film is brought to the final film."

Tim Sullivan was hired to write the script in 2005, but was later replaced by Darren Lemke and Josh Klausner. Klausner said about the script's  evolution: "When I first came onto the project, it wasn't supposed to be the final chapter -- there were originally going to be 5 Shrek movies. Then, about a year into the development, Jeffrey Katzenberg decided that the story that we'd come up with was the right way for Shrek's journey to end, which was incredibly flattering." In May 2007, shortly before the release of the third film, it as announced that Mike Mitchell would go on board to direct the new installment. Much of the film was written and recorded in New York City.

Cultural References[]

Dreamworks References[]

  • During the end credits many characters and moments from previous movies of the Shrek saga are shown.
  • A tiny man named Rumpelstiltskin appears briefly in Shrek the Third but is not the Rumpelstiltskin seen here because they look very different each one (wide-brimmed hat trimmed beard mustache and sideburns different facial features) and is voiced by a different actor. Rumpelstilskin is a different character and the Rumpelstiltskin we see there is maybe a man who has the same name or just steals the name.
  • According to the above, another possible character that was planned to appear in the film, but the idea was dropped finally is Prince Charming. The only fact that indicates that Charming possible would return in this film is this: the name of Rupert Everett, Charming's voice actor; was seen on the film's cast list, but many people think that was an error, because Charming wasn't seen or heard in all the film (without the credits).

Movie References[]

Culture References[]

  • At the very beginning of the movie the sign for the tralier park where Rumpelstiltskin lives has the inscription "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" which is one translation of what is said to be on the gates of Hell according to the Inferno section of Dante's The Divine Comedy. (Other translations include "All hope abandon, ye who enter here" and ""Abandon hope, all ye who enter here".)

Sequel[]

Following the success of Shrek 2 in May 2004, Jeffrey Katzenberg revealed that the Shrek story had been outlined into five films almost from the beginning. "Before the first one was finished we talked about what the whole story of Shrek is, and each of the chapters answers questions about the first movie and gives us an insight," said Katzenberg, "Shrek 3 and 4 are going to reveal other unanswered questions and, finally, in the last chapter, we will understand how Shrek came to be in that swamp, when we meet him in the first movie."[1] After the release of Shrek the Third in 2007, Katzenberg announced that the fifth film would be released in 2013.[2]

In May 2009, DreamWorks Animation (DWA) announced that the fourth film's title would be Shrek Forever After, indicating that it would be the last in the Shrek series.[3] Later that year, that was confirmed by Bill Damaschke, head of creative production at DWA, with him saying: "All that was loved about Shrek in the first film is brought to the final film."[4]

Josh Klausner, one of the writers of Shrek Forever After, explained in 2010 the script's evolution: "When I first came onto the project, it wasn't supposed to be the final chapter — there were originally going to be 5 Shrek movies. Then, about a year into the development, Jeffrey Katzenberg decided that the story that we'd come up with was the right way for Shrek's journey to end..."[5]

However, the project was later brought back into development when Universal Studios bought DreamWorks.

Trivia[]

  • This is the first Shrek film in Real D-3D and IMAX 3D.
  • This is the first Shrek film to be shot in a 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio, unlike the first three films which were produced in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
  • Shrek is the first DreamWorks Animation franchise to become a tetralogy.
  • The song Rumpel's Party Palace played during the witch rave scene is a dance remix of Fugue in G Minor by Johann Sebastain Bach Appropriately for the film's subject this song is known as the Little Fugue.
  • As the head of the film, Walt Dohrn would perform all the voices during storyboard meetings. No other actors came close to matching the voice he had come up with Rumpelstiltskin and so he was cast.
  • When Harold is about to sign the contract, a man arrives to tell them Fiona has been saved, and falls exhausted just after giving the news. This is a visual pun on what happened during the battle of Marathon (-490AD), when a soldier died just after giving the news that the Persians had been defeated.
  • Originally, Artie and Farquaad were going to appear in the film. Artie would appear in 3 deleted scenes not included in the DVD release, and Farquaad would appear in the alternate universe as a possible ally of Rumpelstiltskin. However, none of these ideas were possible for these reasons:
    • Justin Timberlake, Artie's voice actor, was in a tour during the production of the film, and for this reason, he couldn't make the 3 planned scenes.
    • Farquaad didn't appear for unknown reasons, however, he appears in the end credits.
    • These are also the 3 planned scenes for Artie:
      • Deleted Scene 1: Artie is running the kingdom as Shrek invites him to the party. Though he declines, saying that he cannot hang around ogres any longer (including his cousin, Fiona). He manages to chuck Shrek out and banish them to the Happy Apple, where they will have their party.
      • Deleted Scene 2: When Shrek is in the alternate universe, he travels back to Worcestershire to find Artie. He is indeed no longer the King but is his previous school-life self, being bullied and picked on. Shrek explains that Artie is the king of Far Far Away, but Artie, having no clue of who Shrek is, runs off (like he did in the third film) and in the assembly he is hung by his shirt onto the scaffolding. Shrek is declined entry to the Assembly hall by the guard after failing to remember what Puss and Donkey did to him, such as kicking him in the hip and groin. Shrek then leaves.
      • Deleted Scene 3: After Shrek returns to the real world, Artie enters claiming that he was wrong about Shrek and hereby grants all Ogres to live in Far Fa Away as citizens, no longer as neglected monsters.
  • The first Shrek film to not feature music from Eels lead singer Mark Oliver Everett.
  • This is the first Shrek film to not be co-produced with Pacific Data Images.

Gallery[]

Wiki
DreamWorks Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Shrek Forever After.

Navigation[]

v - e - d
Shrek-logo
Media
Films: ShrekShrek 2Shrek the ThirdShrek Forever AfterPuss in BootsPuss in Boots: The Last WishShrek 5

TV Specials: Shrek 4-DShrek the HallsScared ShreklessPuss in Boots: The Three Diablos
TV Series: The Adventures of Puss in Boots
Shorts: Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party!Far Far Away IdolDonkey's Christmas ShrektacularThriller NightThe Pig Who Cried Werewolf
Books: ShrekPuss in Boots
Video Games: ShrekShrek 2Shrek SuperSlamDreamWorks Super Star Kartz
Theatrical Plays: Shrek The Musical

Characters
Protagonists: ShrekDonkeyFionaPuss in BootsKitty SoftpawsPerrito

Allies: DragonPinocchioGingerbread ManThree Little PigsWolfThree Blind MiceQueen LillianKing HaroldArthur PendragonSnow WhiteCinderellaSleeping BeautyFarkle, Fergus and FeliciaDronkeysDorisBrogan
Villains: Lord FarquaadTheloniousMonsieur HoodMerry MenFairy GodmotherPrince CharmingRumpelstiltskinFifiJack & JillHumpty DumptyRapunzelCaptain HookEvil QueenHeadless HorsemanCyclopsPied PiperBloodwolf"Big" Jack HornerDeathGoldilocksPapa BearMama BearBaby BearSerpent Sisters
Spin-Off: DulcineaImeldaTalking CricketMama LunaPhoenixThe TerrorThe SphinxTimmyPerlaGonzaloDoctorCallistaAlessandra Belagomba

See also
Locations: DulocFar Far AwayOgre SwampPoison Apple InnPotion FactoryWorcestershire Boarding School

Songs: BarracudaRoyal PainWelcome to Duloc


v - e - d
DreamWorks logo
Cinema
Feature Films: Antz (1998) • The Prince of Egypt (1998) • The Road to El Dorado (2000) • Shrek (2001) • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) • Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) • Shrek 2 (2004) • Shark Tale (2004) • Madagascar (2005) • Over the Hedge (2006) • Shrek the Third (2007) • Bee Movie (2007) • Kung Fu Panda (2008) • Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) • Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) • How to Train Your Dragon (2010) • Shrek Forever After (2010) • Megamind (2010) • Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) • Puss in Boots (2011) • Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) • Rise of the Guardians (2012) • The Croods (2013) • Turbo (2013) • Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) • How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) • Penguins of Madagascar (2014) • Home (2015) • Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) • Trolls (2016) • The Boss Baby (2017) • Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017) • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) • Abominable (2019) • Trolls World Tour (2020) • The Croods: A New Age (2020) • Spirit Untamed (2021) • The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) • The Bad Guys (2022) • Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) • Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023) • Trolls Band Together (2023) • Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)

Co-produced Films: Chicken Run (2000) • Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) • Flushed Away (2006)
Upcoming Films: The Wild Robot (2024) • Dog Man (2025)
Feature Films in Development: Mice & MysticsShrek 5
Direct-to-Video Films: Joseph: King of Dreams (2000)
Digital films: Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021) • Orion and the Dark (2024) • Megamind vs. The Doom Syndicate (2024)
Canceled Films: TuskerThe WandererTortoise vs. HareTruckersMe & My ShadowMonkeys of MumbaiRumblewickB.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly OperationsGiants: Forces of NatureLarrikinsZodiacSpooky Jack

Television
TV Specials: Shrek the Halls (2007) • Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space (2009) • Merry Madagascar (2009) • Scared Shrekless (2010) • Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010) • Gift of the Night Fury (2011) • Madly Madagascar (2013) • Trolls Holiday (2017) • How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019) • Trolls: Holiday in Harmony (2021)

Shorts: Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party! (2001) • Shrek 4-D (2003) • Sinbad and the Cyclops Island (2003) • Far Far Away Idol (2004) • Club Oscar (2005) • The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005) • First Flight (2006) • Hammy's Boomerang Adventure (2006) • Secrets of the Furious Five (2008) • B.O.B.'s Big Break (2009) • Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010) • Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular (2010) • Megamind: The Button of Doom (2011) • Thriller Night (2011) • The Pig Who Cried Werewolf (2011) • Night of the Living Carrots (2011) Book of Dragons (2011) • Gift of the Night Fury (2011) • Secrets of the Masters (2011) • Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos (2012) • Almost Home (2014) • Rocky and Bullwinkle (2014) • Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014) • Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016) • Bird Karma (2018) • Bilby (2018) • Marooned (2019) • To: Gerard (2020)
TV Series: Toonsylvania (1998) • Invasion America (1998) • Alienators: Evolution Continues (2001–2002) • Father of the Pride (2004–2005) • The Penguins of Madagascar (2008–15) • Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2016) • DreamWorks Dragons (2012-2018) • Monsters vs. Aliens (2013-2014) • Turbo FAST (2013–2016) • VeggieTales in the House (2014-2016) • All Hail King Julien (2014-2017) • The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015-2018) • Dinotrux (2015-2018) • The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show (2015-2017) • Dawn of the Croods (2015-2017) • Noddy, Toyland Detective (2016-present) • Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016-2018) • Home: Adventures with Tip and Oh (2016-2018) • Trollhunters (2016-2018) • VeggieTales in the City (2017) • Spirit Riding Free (2017-2020) • Trolls: The Beat Goes On! (2018-2019) • The Boss Baby: Back in Business (2018-2020) • The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (TV series) (2018-2019) • Harvey Street Kids (2018-2020) • The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants (2018-2020) • She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018-2020) • Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny (2018-2019) • 3Below (2018-2019) • Where's Waldo? (2019-2020) • Archibald's Next Big Thing (2019-present) • Dragons: Rescue Riders (2019-2022) • Fast & Furious: Spy Racers (2019-2021) • Cleopatra in Space (2020-present) • Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020) • Rhyme Time Town (2020-2021) • Madagascar: A Little Wild (2020-2022) • Wizards (2020) • Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020-2022) • The Mighty Ones (2020-2022) • Doug Unplugs (2020-2022) • Trolls: TrollsTopia (2020-2022) • Gabby’s Dollhouse (2021-present) • Go, Dog. Go! (2021-2022) • The Croods: Family Tree (2021-2023) • Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021-2023) • The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib (2022-2023) • Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022-2023) • Abominable and the Invisible City (2022-2023) • Megamind Rules! (2024-present) • Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (2024-present)
Upcoming TV Series: Felix the Cat (TBA) • Bearbrick (TBA)

  1. Linder, Brian (May 17, 2004). More Shrek. IGN. Retrieved on March 9, 2012.
  2. Partridge, Des. "More Shrek set to roll", June 7, 2007. Retrieved on February 23, 2012. 
  3. "DreamWorks Animation Announces Plans to Release Five Feature Films Every Two Years", DreamWorks Animation, May 28, 2009. Retrieved on March 8, 2012. 
  4. Wloszczyna, Susan. "First look: 'Shrek Forever After': Fourth, final film is first in 3-D", November 26, 2009. Retrieved on February 23, 2012. 
  5. Eckerling, Debra. "We Asked ... Josh Klausner and Darren Lemke, "Shrek Forever After"", May 18, 2010. Retrieved on March 10, 2012. 
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