SnoopyStyle
Shrek is grinch-like ignoring Christmas as the manic Donkey hounds him to prepare. He doesn't care until it's the day before Christmas. Fiona seems to like the idea of a first Christmas with the kids. Shrek is in a rush. Donkey takes the idea of a family Christmas to mean that he should invite everybody to the party. It doesn't turn out well and Shrek kicks everybody out.It's a little bit of Shrek the Grinch. Some of it works better than others. I love the bit with Gingerbread Man. It just needs something more than getting together for Christmas. Shrek seems set for a poignant take on a Christmas story. It's a little bit rambling and I'm not sure it'll be a Christmas tradition from here on out.
Richard R. Spotington
The capitalist social stigma surrounding the creation of a "perfect family" for a "perfect holiday" is "perfectly" exemplified in Shrek the Halls. I have never seen the Kantian notion of disgust more charmingly rendered or more appealing to children and adults alike in a holiday featurette.This marvelous post-modernist critique of old-world fairy tales is a bright addition to the holiday film canon. I look forward to watching the other "Shrek" videos.How fortunate are we to experience such majestic, and even relevant, beauty in our lifetime?
windtar
I think this Christmas shrek special was awful.Maybe i'm just to old to appreciate this cartoon.I found the main characters OK, but the guests that came in ruined the show. the gingerbread sequence with huge santa was so boring.The animation was typical shrek, and the story plot about shrek wanting to celebrate with just his family was a good idea, but when the guests arrived unannounced, well......The guests all went nuts creating total chaos that wasn't funny to me. It was just annoying.I'm probably just to old to enjoy this movie. I can see why kids like it though
shadowlupa
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.