Shrek the Halls (NR, 2007)

In SHREK THE HALLS, a half-hour holiday special starring everyone's favorite ogre, his new family, and a colorful ensemble of other fairy tale creatures, the story picks up just before Christmas. While everyone else is filled with cheer for the upcoming holiday, ornery Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) has no desire to celebrate -- but for the sake of Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and their babies, he attempts to do his part to make the family's first holiday together a memorable one. Unfortunately, the fairy tale creatures take Shrek's lack of yuletide joy as cause for intervention and show up unannounced on his doorstep to "help."

Shrek the Halls will certainly entertain young fans of the movies, and if your kids are already immune to the series' potty humor, there's no cause for concern here. And grown-ups who enjoy Shrek's arch humor will appreciate that the show fits seamlessly into the movies' storyline, from plot and character continuity to the recognizable voice cast. But you might want to brace yourself for a refreshed interest in ubiquitous Shrek merchandise like toys, games, DVDs, and clothing -- just in time for your kids' holiday wish lists, of course.

Studio: DreamWorks Animation
Director: Gary Trousdale
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 22 minutes
Theatrical release: November 29, 2007
DVD release: November 4, 2008
MPAA Rating: NR