Rewatched the Shrek movies recently and it got me thinking. I think Shrek the third isn’t quite as bad as everyone says it it- but I think it could have been so much better-
I think it would have been better if Shrek decided to force Prince Charming to come along on the journey to help get Arthur and train Arthur in the social etiquette of royalty Charming was trained in his entire life. The banter this allows would be very fun. Charming plots the coup from the original movie before they leave, and it’s planned to take place as soon as they come back with the heir to kill Shrek and Arthur at the same time. 2 birds with 1 stone.
BUT! While they’re on the journey there and back again Charming and Shrek bond (slowly) over both their shared snark and being raised in an environment were they were expected to be one thing and didn’t really get any encouragement to be anything else or forgiveness for fulfilling the role they were forced into. They also bond with Arthur, same as the first with the campfire scene, here Shrek gives Arthur the same talk while Charming is brooding while leaning against a tree at the edge of the light (because he’s dramatic).
They get back to the kingdom and the coup begins! Betrayal of the trust that’s been built up! But Charming doesn’t want that anymore and helps to put a stop to the coup, solidifying his redemption arc. You can even keep the scene where he’s looking for Shrek and asks Pinocchio where he is because everyone else still thinks he’s evil.
Maybe there’s a running theme of asking Charming what he really wants from life so that when we get to Arthur’s speech about being whatever you want and all the villains are saying what their dreams for their lives are Charming can have this final moment of opening up. Charming stays in the castle with Arthur as a royal advisor so that their story is wrapped up and doesn’t feel quite so much like the third movie doesn’t exist in the 4th movie.
I don’t know, I think it would be cool. Thoughts?












