The story picks up after the events of the previous films, with Shrek, voiced by Mike Myers, feeling overwhelmed and discontent with his life as a domesticated family ogre. Longing for the days when he was feared and respected, Shrek makes a deal with the conniving Rumpelstiltskin, voiced by Walt Dohrn, who offers him a chance to experience life as a “real ogre” again for one day in exchange for a day from his past.
However, Rumpelstiltskin tricks Shrek by taking the day he was born, effectively erasing him from existence and creating an alternate reality where Far Far Away is ruled by him as a tyrant, ogres are hunted down and captured, and Fiona, voiced by Cameron Diaz, leads a band of resistance fighters.
In this new reality, Shrek discovers that Fiona does not know him and is a warrior leading the resistance against Rumpelstiltskin’s rule. Desperate to restore his former life, Shrek sets out to find Fiona and convince her to fall in love with him before the day is over, thus breaking Rumpelstiltskin’s curse and restoring the timeline.
As Shrek navigates the strange new world, he encounters familiar faces who have been altered by the changes in the timeline, including Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas, who is now a pampered pet, and Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy, who is now a cart-pulling beast of burden.
Despite numerous challenges and setbacks, including Rumpelstiltskin’s attempts to thwart his plans, Shrek eventually manages to win Fiona’s heart and break the curse just as the day is about to end. As a result, the timeline is restored, and Shrek returns to his normal life with Fiona and their children, having learned to appreciate the true value of love and family.
“Shrek Forever After” received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its animation, humor, and emotional depth. While some felt that it did not quite reach the heights of the earlier films in the series, it was still considered a satisfying conclusion to the beloved franchise, offering a poignant message about the importance of appreciating what you have.