How is it that this half-hour holiday television special is superior to the third film in the series, “Shrek the Third”? The co-directing team of the second sequel weren’t able to master the subtleties and timing which made the humor of the films as appealing to adults as children. While the Christmas special is not as intricate a story as the first two movies, it works for what it sets out to do. With a reasonable amount of laughs for adults and kids and a sweet, heartwarming story about the Shrek family’s first Christmas together, “Shrek the Halls” is worth a perusal on DVD.
Shrek was not expecting to celebrate Christmas this year. When Fiona drops a hint in the lead up to the holiday of how important it will be sharing it with their kids, Shrek rushes around trying to create a holiday he has never properly experienced. Working from a book which shows the author’s notion of an ideal Christmas, Shrek’s expectations are high for that special day. When Donkey and the rest of his friends crash the festivities, Shrek is less than pleased with how Christmas is turning out for his family. Will Shrek learn the true meaning of Christmas and salvage the day?
Director Gary Trousdale is an unbelievable talent to have for this special. Trousdale directed Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and is comfortable with creating emotion and mining laughs from the situation. There are the right amount of Shrek’s gross humor like using petrified snakes and blown up frogs to decorate the home. Each of the supporting characters bring their own special brand of comedy to the story, especially Donkey and Puss N’ Boots. They gave these two sidekicks their own distinct personalities - which was missing from “Shrek the Third” - which adds volumes to the story. All the voice talents return, making this surprisingly good holiday special a nostalgic return to the quality of the “Shrek” franchise.
Rated TV-PG.
