Shrek The Halls (DVD, 2008)

I caught this by chance as a ABC holiday special, and my 3 year old son loved it so much, he started asking to watch "Shrek Santa" again and again. I just bought it and we have already watched it at least a dozen times and I have to say - it is very entertaining with plenty of music and the same great animation that you have come to expect from the Shrek franchise. Plus, coming in at a little over 20 minutes, it flies by.

Additionally, the DVD comes with 2 Penguin sing-alongs based on the short "Penguin Christmas Caper" which was included on the Madagascar DVD - and although he can't quite keep up with the singing, he loves their takes on Deck the Halls and the 12 Days of Christmas! I highly recommend this DVD!

This is a family favorite thats new to the movie scene. Shrek and his new found family plan to enjoy their first christmas together but things do not go as planned. Donkey and the rest of the swamp crew join in on the festivities and make it one hilarious Christmas to remember! This is a movie that will sure to have your family gathered together and laughing from start to finish!

The bad news, the latest release from the Shrek foundation is only a 30 minute special, not a full lenth feature film.
The good news, it is a definate addidition to the multitude of "Shrekkers" collections.
Be sure to check out the exrta's on the dvd, including the 12 days of Christmas sing-a-long, Deck the halls sing-a-long and the DreamWorks teams animtion workshop's, an isight into the making of these funny movies.
Children loves the antics of Shrek and family as Shrek promisies a holiday to remember, then, teirquiet family get-together gets gatecrashers in the guise of Puss, Donkey and the rest of the crazy gang.

We bought this movie because our grandchildren live with us and they have enjoyed all Shrek movies to date. This "movie" is more of a cartoon, only about 25 minutes or so long. Shrek and Fiona have been married for a little while with their triplets; Donkey stops by to encourage Shrek to get ready for Christmas and Shrek never heard of Christmas, never celebrated it before, etc., but makes a valiant effort to learn about it (at the last minute gets a book on Christmas Eve and tries to apply this information). Plot is basically that all friends (or "family") like Donkey, Pinocchio, Gingerbread people, pigs, etc. show up and Shrek is upset that they are messing up his plans for his "family", then Fiona expresses her disappointment at Shrek. Has happy ending, some decent values communicated, some good humorous moments. Disappointed in length of the film, but it is typical Shrek characters, true to form, so keep that in mind if you are considering this film.

I instictively wanted this DVD from being a fan of the Shrek movies. I know all the characters well and each did not disappoint at holiday time. There is a stong point being made all thru the movie about the actual basis of what Christmas is all about. Without meaning to spoil the ending or their point, it reminds me of saying that a funeral isn't for the dead, it's for the living - cynical, yes, but here in this movie, I noticed that their meaning of the origin and why we should celebrate leaves out the old-fashioned belief of religion and a baby born. This isn't really so much a Christmas movie, its more of an "X-mas" movie. But it's still a cute one.