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Spidey to get a Shrek at movies
18/05/2007 09:36 - (SA)
Paula Bustamante
Los Angeles - After two weeks of unrivalled dominance at the US box-office, Spider-Man could find himself out-muscled by a lovable green ogre when Shrek the Third opens in theatres on Friday.
The third instalment of the phenomenally successful animated films will offer the first serious challenge to Spider-Man 3, which has grossed a staggering $632m worldwide in only two weeks.
The first two Shrek films have grossed more than $1.4bn worldwide since the franchise was launched in 2001, with 2004's second instalment raking in $920m alone.
But whether the third film is capable of repeating that success remains to be seen, with early reviews from influential entertainment journals Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter suggesting the series was flagging.
'Shrek's showing signs of encroaching middle age'
"Much of the bite and a good deal of the wit of the first two films are missing," The Hollywood Reporter noted in an early review this week.
"The rude send-up of beloved fairy tale conventions remains - somewhat - but these playful jabs no longer come as pleasing surprises. You expect them. And you expect better."
Variety meanwhile said that while Shrek was "still mirthful and eccentric enough to amuse his hordes of admirers," the character was beginning to "show signs of encroaching middle age."
The latest Shrek film sees Mike Myers return to provide the voice of the ogre, who is saddled with the crown of Far Far Away whilst struggling to adapt to life as a father.
Cameron Diaz, who again provides the voice of Shrek's love interest Princess Fiona, told journalists the film was a welcome break from the demands of conventional acting.
"The animation process lets the actors be a bit more outrageous with their personas," Diaz said, citing the example of co-star Antonio Banderas, who reprises his role as Puss in Boots.
Hollywood's summer of sequels
"If you saw Antonio Banderas in a live action film being Puss in Boots, you'd be like, 'What the hell is he doing?'," Diaz said.
"But, as an animated cat with boots this big, you go, 'Oh, yeah, of course.' Yes, there is a liberty that we can take. It's liberating to be behind this thing, where you can make the stupid, crazy faces."
The return of Shrek is the latest instalment of what has been dubbed Hollywood's "Summer of Sequels," which will see no fewer than 14 follow-ups to earlier films hit cinema screens over the coming months.
While Spider-Man 3 and Shrek the Third are the two biggest blockbusters to be released so far this year, all eyes will be on the third film in the hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean series, which opens later in May.
As well as Pirates, Spiderman and Shrek, a number of other successful films are readying sequels, with a fifth instalment of the money-spinning Harry Potter based on JK Rowling's books heading the field.
George Clooney and Brad Pitt will return for crime-caper Ocean's 13, while Matt Damon is reprising his role as assassin Jason Bourne for a third time in The Bourne Ultimatum.
Other sequels include Bruce Willis action movie Die Hard 4 (Live Free and Die Hard), Fantastic Four, Evan Almighty and Hostel 2.
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South Africa
