Shrek the Third dir. by Chris Miller (review)

Abstract

reviews113 Perlesvaus (The Chapel Ride) as well as a similar episode from the Queste regarding a half-waking dream ofLancelot. These central characters are considered in terms of identity, vision, the 'gaze/ and ultimately desire. The final chapter, '"Si avoit son tens trespassé": The Final Sacrifice of the Gtail Hero?,' reflects upon the notion of closure, as Ramm puts it, 'the manner in which the Perlesvaus and the Queste attempt to deal with the remainder of/as their own discourse through their narrative closure or, more exactly, their inability to effect adequate closure owing to the persistence ofthe discursive objeta' (149). So although Ramm has shown us the possibilityoffourdifferent Grail discourses, theyultimately produce only a lack ofdiscourse, leading inevitably to the conclusion that the Grail is but an 'empty metaphor' (159). This study is well informed by historical and linguistic analysis, and the text improves upon second reading, as is truewith most densewritings. Although Ramm's knowledge and manipulation ofpsychoanalytic theories is notable, it is not always clearwhether Ramm is employing his own or Zizek's interpretation interpretation of Lacan. The footnotes, in some instances covering as much ofeach page as the text, can frequently be distracting. They tend to undercut the argument being made, leading this reader to question whether the text can be sufficient or ifthe footnotes must serve as excess to the text's deliberate lack! Often these footnotes might have been better integrated into the body of the text; at other times they, while always informative, appear to have only limited relevance to the discussion. Another distraction to reading is the author's not infrequent use ofitalics to emphasize his points. I found this attempt to master the interpretive attention ofthe reader more likely to undermine the author's intention than to sustain it. As an effective application ofLacanian theory to several medieval texts, Ramm's study will certainly be valued by many scholars. Whether the study will serve as an influential addition to the body of scholarship on the Gtail legend in the years to come remains to be seen. JOAN E. MCRAE Hampden-Sydney College Shrek the Third, Chris Miller, dir., Raman Hui, co-dir. Story by Andrew Adamson. Screenplay byJeffrey Price Sc Peter S. Seaman, Jon Zack, and Howard Gould. Based on William Steig's Shrek! DreamWorks Animation. 2007. 92 minutes. The Shrek franchise has flirted with Arthuriana since rhe 2001 premiere. Before Shrek enters Farquaad's castle, the ogte crosses the lord's parking lot, where a banner reminds potentially forgetful visitors that 'You are parked in Lancelot' as Donkey tells Shrek that they have arrived in 'Duloc' From the start, an Arthurian world exists somewhere only slightly beyond the periphery of Shrek's revisionist onceupon -a-time adventures. Shrek the Thirdattempts to enter that world directly with a tale that follows the hero as he seeks the teenage Arthur, reveals to the boy that he is an heir to the throne, teaches him lessons that he needs to gain self-confidence, and assists in recovering 114ARTHURIANA the kingdom from the usurping Prince Charming. As fatherless Arthur prepares to be king, Shrek also develops, readying himself for duties he will face as father of triplets by film's end. This latest film continues a storyline started in Shrek 2. Fiona's father, Harold, the Frog King ofFar Far Away, now lies ill. Shrek and Fiona 'fill in' for the ailing amphibian, an assignment Shrek dutifullyyet reluctantly accepts. The heavy-handed ogre proves especially ill-suited to his duties, killing a knight during a dubbing ceremony, sinking a ship while christening it, and lighting a hall on fire. Yet as Harold's life slips away, he nevertheless names Shrek his heir. (One must leave till another day consideration of why Fiona—also 'next in line' with Shrek—or the capable Queen Lillian could not rule.) At Shrek's insistence, Harold also reveals that there lives one other possible heir, Fiona's cousin, Arthur Pendragon. After the king's death, Shrek sets out to find Arthur, to whom he intends to cede the realm. Meanwhile, the opportunistic Prince Charming forms an army of fairy tale 'losers' to seize the throne. Another thread, following Fiona...