Story-wise this one isn't as original as the first two Shrek films. Taking the plot from the pages of It's a Wonderful Life, Shrek (Mike Myers) wakes up to his and Fiona's (Cameron Diaz) three howling babies who came at the end of Shrek the Third. The uneventful and endless days of nappy changing, friends barging in uninvited and the daily tour ride of his swamp takes a toll on the ogre going through a mid-life crisis.

Craving the good old days of mud baths in the swamp and instilling terror in the hearts of the towns people, Shrek gets the chance to relive it all for a single day from the crestfallen Rumplestiltskin (Walt Dohrn) looking like another version of Lord Ferquard (the nefarious short villain). As in the Brother Grimms' fairytale, Rumplestiltskin only makes deals with a hidden clause. He asks nothing more than a day, for a day, and with a little word play we cut to a world without Shrek where Fiona is the hardcore revolutionary leader of the ogres. Puss (Antonio Banderas) is a tame, pudgy, pampered house pet and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) is the all-purpose mule to the creepy witches of Rumplestiltskin.

The adventure is about the re-wooing of Fiona, and true to the idea of a fairy tale a true love's kiss can break Rumplestiltskin's spell. This alternate world may sound cheesy but its works to the point of being enjoyable and worth a watch.

The characters are older and more mature, and abundant comic jabs from the last three Shreks are missing. This is more about action/adventure than trademark parodies of fairy tale character. Besides Rumplestiltskin, the Pied Piper of Hamlin and the witches, there is almost no poking fun at the old classics. It's good family fun and definitely better than Shrek the Third. After Shrek Forever After, I wouldn't mind another sequel — well at least the Puss in Boots spin-off is in the works.

Rated PG for cartoonish ogre violence and a prerequisite family ending. — Farheen Jawaid