Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Christmas in the swamp is great family fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 20 kid reviews
Kids say the movie offers a festive adventure filled with humor and heartwarming moments featuring beloved characters from the franchise, though some find the plot predictable and a few jokes might not be suitable for very young children. While praised for its animation and positive message about family togetherness, there are concerns about elements of cartoon violence and innuendo that may not be appropriate for all audiences.
- humor and heart
- family togetherness
- animation quality
- suitable for older kids
- cartoon violence
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
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."
Is It Any Good?
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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why specials like this are produced. Is it just to entertain kids, or does the studio have other goals? What might those be? Did watching this show make you want more Shrek stuff? Do you think that was the plan? Aside from ads, how else does the media market to kids? Families can also discuss how this special compares to the movies. Did you like this show as much as the movies? Why or why not? Which one is your favorite so far?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 29, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : November 4, 2008
- Cast : Cameron Diaz , Eddie Murphy , Mike Myers
- Director : Gary Trousdale
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : DreamWorks Animation
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 22 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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