Shrek the Halls (2007)

Brilliant and touching

Absolutely Fantastic

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

This short film is about how Shrek prepares to spend his first Christmas with his family."Shrek the Halls" is a colourful, fun and festive animation. It retains the original elements of Shrek, especially the highly annoying donkey which I really dislike. It is packed with action and fun, full of different things going on as the Shrek babies, Gingerbread man, donkey, Puss In Boots and other characters have their share of screen time. I like "Shrek the Halls" up until the appearance of fart jokes. Why do the filmmakers so obsessed with farts? It appears not just once but twice! And Shrek even wishes you a smelly Christmas! Now kids throughout the country will wish each other smelly Christmas. I am not sure that is a good idea."Shrek the Halls" is annoying but strangely likable. It will go down as a guilty pleasure.

If you took all the stock elements of a Shrek movie (grumpy ogre, annoying donkey, cute kitty, obligatory dance number, etc.), put them in a blender and condensed it to 20 minutes, you'd have this mess. Painful to watch; I may have laughed once. The story and dialogue are rushed beyond comprehension, with the voice actors sounding like they phoned in their lines. The final reworked rendition of "The Christmas Story" poem felt like it was written by a committee in five minutes. And boy, a little Eddie Murphy goes a long way. With its desperate attempt to be hip and current, this show will be long outdated and forgotten while classics like "The Grinch…" will remain timeless. A sad waste of effort by all involved, a veritable "jumping of the shark" for the Shrek franchise.

This little 22 minute marvel accomplishes what Shrek the Third could not: it is consistently funny and works well on its own. Shrek the Third was mildly amusing, while this is side-splittingly funny. It is also easy for most of the audience to relate to. Everyone has tried to create the perfect Christmas before, and everyone can relate to wanting to have an intimate Christmas with the immediate family. Some have commented that it bears a resemblance to the Star Wars Holiday Special, but I just don't see it. It breezes by without unnecessary musical numbers or "special guest appearances". All in all, an amusing little time-waster, and I hope that future editions of Shrek the Third on DVD come packaged with this as a bonus.

This holiday special was a true delight. The characters were all in top form, there was the always needed underlying messages, and it was entertaining. I love the baby ogres and really love the baby Donkey-Dragons. This show has something for adults and children and is a classic for years to come. Shrek never celebrated Christmas before. In a world where our rituals are diminishing daily, and there are attacks on every form of Christmas this transcended any debates and focused on the joy of a holiday like this, the coming together of family, whether "blood family" or the family of friends that is so important in our lives no matter what our age.Instead of focusing on gifts or anything like that, the show celebrates the early traditions, even pre-Christian, the bringing of the family, neighbors, and friends together in the darkest time of the year around the hearth. A time to just 'be'. I particularly loved the party because it reminds us all that we live in joy each day. and we see how the "true meaning of Christmas" changes with each individual. We get a chance to see through the lens (as Jung would say) of all the different characters, and bring together quite and odd and diverse group to merge into a wonderful holiday time, a family of caring friends.Shrek is his usual grumpy but dear hearted self, and the rest of the gang are a hoot. Donkey, Puss n Boots (I cracked up when he whisks off his hat and says to the baby ogres, OK I will assume the position, the ever cranky but loving Uncle), and the sweet pink Dragon who sits on the outside, unable to come into the home yet still very much a part of the family and the event. Fiona ties in the family and friends well, reminding Shrek and the world that family can mean so very much to us, and comes in many types and blessings.Thanks for such a wonderful show and I just hope that ABC airs it again during the holidays. This is one that I'd get in DVD and where is the CD??? The talent in Shrek is amazing, as always, the writing terrific, the animation awesome. Happy Shrekadays to all and to all a good night.