Shrek the Halls (2007 TV Short) User Reviews

Good Christmas special for a change

[Bored_Dragon · 7/10 · 27 February 2018]

I don't like Christmas specials, any Christmas specials, but Shrek turned out to be exception. As he never celebrated Christmas and has no idea what it is at all, when he decides to organize Christmas for his family in last moment hilarious disaster is due to happen. Add Eddie Murphy as irritating Donkey and entertainment is guaranteed.

7,5/10

A Shrek of a Christmas Special!

[robyn-710-767167 · 7/10 · 15 December 2010]

This has the charm of the Christmas season with Shrek and his classic adventures put together. Shrek wants a perfect Christmas with his wife and kids, but doesn't even know what Christmas is. With donkey, puss in boots, and the others there to annoy, frustrate and anger Shrek, Shrek has to manage his issues of not knowing what Christmas is, with his annoying friends.

I loved the different versions of the Christmas story, and laughed at them. Near the end when Santa started to come and the gingerbread man seems him and says "Santa! ahhhhh" and runs inside cracked me up! Really enjoyable, 20-25 minute Christmas special from shrek. :D

Silly short animation because of Eddie Murphy, but 7 solid stars from me!

[huggibear · 7/10 · 8 December 2017]

I like Dreamworks animation just as much as I like Disney animation. This was very cute for the holidays. Silly, but sweet. Eddie Murphy has always been silly, but I like his movies. This one is definitely short because I saw it on the ABC network and there were lots of commercials. And I do agree with one of the other reviewers, that this could have been made into a much longer film. I gave it a solid 7 star rating because it was great! It has a good 'family' touch to it. It makes you wonder just what we consider a family. We have an immediate family (which I learned while I was in the military) and that's your spouse and children (or mother, father, sister and brother). And then we have our secondary family, which is everyone else related to you by blood. But I think family should be the entire universe of people. People all over the world, join hands, start a love train. Seriously, but watch this 21 minute short animation. You'll enjoy it.

a sigh if relief

[Bettlejuice · 2 December 2007]

I have to say that i was holding my breath when I sat down to watch this. I wanted so much to like it but everything pointed to this being a total disaster. First off Christmas specials are rarely on the caliber of Charlie Brown Christmas and are usually closer to The Star Wars Holiday Special. Add on the fact that the last Shrek movie was nowhere near as good as the first two. Having now seen it I can say that there is hope for the Shrek series yet. Shrek The Halls tells the story of Shrek learning about Christmas. Now that the big green guy has a family, he wants to give them the best Christmas ever, but he doesn't know how. but with the help of donkey and puss in boots and the rest of the gang, he learns in a trial and error type of way that one can only find in a Shrek story. This cute little half an hour special has really restored my faith in both the Shrek series and Christmas specials in general. that may seem way to dramatic but if Shrek the Halls can pull it of then maybe there is hope for the ones yet to come.

Has the quality of the Shrek movies but the story is too simple and sappy.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 6/10 · 25 December 2007]

It was sort of surprising to see that this movie fairly much had the same visual quality as all of the other 'normal' Shrek movies. Quite surprising for a 30 minutes made for TV Christmas special. In that regard the fans of the Shrek movies will most likely also not be disappointed with this movie.

The movie of course also features lots of the typical Shrek-humor and comical moments. Also of course great that all of the actors from the Shrek movies lend their voices to this special. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, they are all here.

But it are mostly the secondary characters that make this movie fun to watch. Characters such as the Gingerbread Man and Pinocchio provide the movie with its most fun moments.

Just too bad about the simple and cheesy story. The Shrek movies were all obviously aimed toward the sort of 'older kids' and more mature audience while this story is obviously aimed toward much younger children. It's just too simplistic and candy sweet all. The story mostly doesn't work out due to the fact that you'll find yourself mostly on Shrek's side rather than Fiona's, which was not what the makers intended. I can only say that the movie gets amusing when some of the character sort of give their own interpretation of their Christmas story and experiences but other than that the story doesn't really deserve much credit. It's just too obvious all. The movie tries to shove down the Christmas message trough our throats. It feels forced and not like the sweet little fun charming movie that it really could had been.

Now instead the movie has basically little to offer or at least no more than any other Christmas TV/movie special, which doesn't take anything away from the quality or the fact that this still remains a perfectly watchable short movie.

6/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Shrekland Christmas

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 6 January 2016]

Shrek the Halls is a fast frenetic and funny Christmas cash cow from Dreamworks to milk the Shrek franchise.

Donkey's has been excited about Christmas for months. Shrek is not bothered until he finds out that Fiona is excited over their first Christmas as a family which means he needs to learn everything about Christmas and organise everything at the last moment.

The problem is Shrek's plans for the big day are thrown into chaos by Donkey and the other Shrek characters.

This animation short is festive themed without being too syrupy. Donkey, Puss in Boots, The Gingerbread man and the Three little pigs are all in hand with their gags, annoying or otherwise as well as the sight gags. Such as the Pigs in blankets, the Gingerbread man vomiting a chocolate chip or Puss distracted by the bauble when telling a story.

Kids will enjoy this over the Christmas period which does not try to be a big spectacle and still retains some of the slapstick and gross humour of the Shrek films.

Santa, run!

[alphahumphrey-54847 · 7/10 · 8 January 2020]

I remember annoying Rotten Tomatoes forums ages ago with my love for Shrek, and a decade later Shrek became cult on Youtube. It´s no Polar Express just some light silly Xmas fun as us Shrek fans awaits more Shrek in autumn 2022.

Fine but limited TV special

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 2 August 2014]

Shrek is grinch-like ignoring Christmas as the manic Donkey hounds him to prepare. He doesn't care until it's the day before Christmas. Fiona seems to like the idea of a first Christmas with the kids. Shrek is in a rush. Donkey takes the idea of a family Christmas to mean that he should invite everybody to the party. It doesn't turn out well and Shrek kicks everybody out.

It's a little bit of Shrek the Grinch. Some of it works better than others. I love the bit with Gingerbread Man. It just needs something more than getting together for Christmas. Shrek seems set for a poignant take on a Christmas story. It's a little bit rambling and I'm not sure it'll be a Christmas tradition from here on out.

Great Special

[Christmas-Reviewer · 8/10 · 8 December 2017]

I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 (C H R I S T M A S ) MOVIES AND SPECIALS.

SO PLEASE BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY " C H R I S T M A S " MOVIES AS I CAN.

"Shrek The Halls" is one of those "Christmas Cartoons" that does everything correct. It stays loyal to the tone of the movies that it was based on. They kept the same voice talent from the films and gave us a very funny and touching story about "Christmas".

In this special Shrek thought he could finally sit back, relax and enjoy his happily ever after with his new family, the most joyous of all holidays arrives. It's Christmas Eve and everyone is filled with holiday cheer - except for Shrek. He isn't exactly the picture of yuletide joy, but for the sake of Fiona and the kids, he tries to get into the spirit of things as only an ogre can. Unfortunately, everyone seems to have their own ideas about what Christmas is all about.

Loved this one!

Goofy and funny

[dbuckshnis · 7/10 · 25 December 2021]

I am not caught up on all the Shrek stories but this was on TV and I found it to be really cute. I enjoyed the original Shrek and I really enjoy the characters at the Shrek movie. So this is quite fun from a Christmas standpoint. The music continues to make the movie but the animation is fabulous!

Have Some Friends Over for Christmas

[Rindiana · 5/10 · 3 January 2011]

Mildly amusing Christmas special with the usual quota of moral uplift and some nice jokes here and there.

They could have done a lot more with the Shrek characters and some more adult oriented jokes would've been welcome. Such as it is, too much fartin' doesn't generate too much feelin'.

Okay kiddie fare.

More in the league of Shrek 3 than the two earlier installments. Watch out for the much funnier second television special taking place on Halloween.

5 out of 10 enervating donkeys

A fun time for all

[stiv-7 · 8/10 · 6 December 2007]

This little 22 minute marvel accomplishes what Shrek the Third could not: it is consistently funny and works well on its own. Shrek the Third was mildly amusing, while this is side-splittingly funny. It is also easy for most of the audience to relate to. Everyone has tried to create the perfect Christmas before, and everyone can relate to wanting to have an intimate Christmas with the immediate family. Some have commented that it bears a resemblance to the Star Wars Holiday Special, but I just don't see it. It breezes by without unnecessary musical numbers or "special guest appearances". All in all, an amusing little time-waster, and I hope that future editions of Shrek the Third on DVD come packaged with this as a bonus.

A sweet Christmas movie that does as much as you'd hope

[popyoshi-36312 · 6/10 · 26 February 2023]

This is a okay Christmas movie. It tells a sweet story and adds a believable personality trait and backstory to shrek. The story is very cute but basic and something you've probably seen a couple times however I think shrek still does it in a very believable manner and very well told manner. The film has minor story issues like characters acting slightly off but for the most part it feels like a good instalment to the shrek universe that expands some small aspects of the universe while still telling a sweet Christmas story. The film is sadly not overly funny but it is only 30 mins and has value. I'd recommend, you kinda get what you'd expect and hope from this film.

Shrek the Halls

[jboothmillard · 5/10 · 23 January 2008]

There are quite a few family films that have attempted the short TV special or straight to video Christmas special, and not all are brilliant, and this is the attempt from Shrek and gang. Basically it is near Christmas Eve, Fiona (Cameron Diaz), Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and the new ogre kids are obviously excited, but grouchy Shrek (Mike Myers) would prefer it if it was just him, with his wife and kids, no-one else. Of course, the disasters he was expecting start happening when all their friends: Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas), Pinocchio (Cody Cameron), Gingerbread Man (Conrad Vernon) and Wolf (Aron Warner) come over to join them. Shrek is like a Scrooge that really doesn't like what Christmas is becoming, but he reveals near the end it is because he has never celebrated it, so he has no idea what goes on, e.g. Present giving, family get together, decorations, etc, but he and the others get their Happy Christmas (Eve). Worth watching!

Great Fun, and some redemption

[RAxs · 9/10 · 30 November 2007]

I have been a long-time Shrek fan. Since basically drooling over the trailer for the first Shrek movie since it was released on the net. It was groundbreaking, and absolutely hilarious that appealed to both children and adults. Shrek 2 came along, kept a lot of the same formula, and again in turn was a very good film. However with the coming of Shrek 3, I was very disappointed. My wife and I hardly laughed at all, and I found the film to be drawn out and boring for the most part.

***Enough of the lead-in*** With Shrek the Halls, comes redemption and hope for the franchise. Yes, this special was short, however in that short amount of time I laughed more than the entire full length of Shrek 3. This wasn't a cheesy made-for-TV video either, the animation is beautiful and the jokes were spot on (the entire Gingerbread man / Santa thing was great). I'm not going to spoil anything away, since there's really not much *to* spoil away, but just know it's fun for the whole family, and for something that you can watch in the comfort of your own home without having to pay for theater admission, how can you pass this up?

Funny and warming – reminded me why I loved the first Shrek film

[bob the moo · 17 March 2008]

For many months Shrek has been ignoring Donkey's excitable babbling about Christmas. However it is only at the very last minute that he learns that this is something special to Fiona and the kids too. Going out in a rush to get things organised, Shrek buys a "how to" book on the perfect Christmas and sets about giving Fiona the perfect family Christmas. Problem is, Donkey has a different understanding of the word "family" than Shrek....

I hadn't seen Shrek The Third when I watched this but when one reviewer mentioned this short film as being the reason they had nothing good left for the film, I thought it was worth twenty or so minutes. And indeed it was as it produced a perfect piece of animated fun for Christmas Eve. The story is about the meaning of Christmas and it has a great moral at the end on how it doesn't have to be perfect because no family is. This worked better for me than the usual sugar coated Christmas ideals that get served up each year but this was a side issue for me as really I was there for the laughs.

Fortunately these are present in spades with the film being consistently funny with a hatful of really good laugh-out-loud moments. The German pigs are a treat and the gingerbread man's horrific experience with Santa is a clever reference as well as being very funny while Donkey of course does his usual fast talking stuff. Shrek and Fiona are, as normal, handed slightly weaker material as they are at the core of the film and thus not able to just drop in for a funny line or strong scene, but they are still fun. My favourite moment was Puss losing himself playing with a bauble ("I have shamed myself") – that had me rolling. The voice work is roundly good and the laughs are reasonably evenly spread out for everyone to get a bite.

Overall then a very funny and warming Christmas animation that demonstrates the sort of touch and humour that made us all love Shrek in the first place.

Perfect for the ADHD Crowd

[Tyypo · 2/10 · 20 December 2007]

If you took all the stock elements of a Shrek movie (grumpy ogre, annoying donkey, cute kitty, obligatory dance number, etc.), put them in a blender and condensed it to 20 minutes, you'd have this mess. Painful to watch; I may have laughed once. The story and dialogue are rushed beyond comprehension, with the voice actors sounding like they phoned in their lines. The final reworked rendition of "The Christmas Story" poem felt like it was written by a committee in five minutes. And boy, a little Eddie Murphy goes a long way. With its desperate attempt to be hip and current, this show will be long outdated and forgotten while classics like "The Grinch…" will remain timeless. A sad waste of effort by all involved, a veritable "jumping of the shark" for the Shrek franchise.

Great little holiday diversion

[smlubecki · 8/10 · 29 November 2007]

Well it is only obvious why Shrek the third stunk... Dreamworks had this little gem up it's sleeve.

this is what Shrek the third should have been. High on comedy,AWESOME soundtrack and a nice little moral at the end. All the characters were great. And I particularly loved Gingy's Christmas story of horror ( it had me rolling) My only complaint was the length of time. It really could've gone an hour to hour and a half and i wouldn't have complained.

This is a wonderful holiday special that will no doubt be added to our family holiday rotation. And in the plus column it was completely family friendly.

If you have a chance see it. I personally can't wait for the DVD.

Stink A Roo

[windtar · 5/10 · 19 December 2008]

I think this Christmas shrek special was awful.

Maybe i'm just to old to appreciate this cartoon.

I found the main characters OK, but the guests that came in ruined the show. the gingerbread sequence with huge santa was so boring.

The animation was typical shrek, and the story plot about shrek wanting to celebrate with just his family was a good idea, but when the guests arrived unannounced, well......

The guests all went nuts creating total chaos that wasn't funny to me. It was just annoying.

I'm probably just to old to enjoy this movie. I can see why kids like it though

Shrek the Halls may become a holiday classic for a new generation

[tavm · 8/10 · 1 December 2007]

This Shrek the Halls holiday special can be both frantic and funny and enjoyable and maybe a little exasperating all at the same time and will probably be another classic to be enjoyed for years to come for adults and children and their families in subsequent Decembers to come. Eddie Murphy's Donkey still has that endearingly irritating quality that makes him often the funniest character in this franchise. Mike Myers's Shrek still has that exasperated appeal we can identify with when Donkey almost goes too far in his constant cheeriness. Cameron Diaz' Fiona makes a nice balance for Shrek when he needs cheering up. Antonio Banderas' Puss in Boots is still at his suave and cute best. And the Gingerbread Man's frightening reaction to Santa Claus is a great touch of a twist in this wonderful parody of various animated Christmas specials over the years! So if you thought there weren't any more original holiday shows to be made, Shrek the Halls may slightly change your mind about that.

9/10!

[AnnaPagrati · 30 December 2021]

A great Christmas special mini film! I In this one, Shrek realizes the meaning of Christmas & appreciates everyone around him! A really cozy film, 9/10!

Didn't get me in the mood

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 10 September 2013]

Let me add first that I haven't seen a single one of the Shrek movies in their entirety, although I'm familiar with most of the characters (including Fiona, the Donkey, Puss in Boots) as you just couldn't escape them in pop culture these days. Sadly, watching this 27-minute animated short film, which was released after the third Shrek movie, could not really raise my interest in watching the real movies anytime soon.

We get to see Shrek juggling his babies like Michael Jackson when we find out he's not really common with or interested the whole phenomenon of the Christmas holidays. As his wife thinks otherwise, he goes to a library and finds out what it's all about. After some initial struggles, he decorates the house with his beloved ones and everybody is ready for Christmas Eve. Shrek's attempts to tell the story of Christmas to his kids gets disturbed by the arrival of all his friends willing to spend Christmas at Shrek's place. They each get to tell their very own Christmas story right before chaos ensues and Shrek ends up lit on fire. Shrek, furious by now, throws out everybody, but reconciliation soon happens and Shrek learns about the true spirit of Christmas.

While the story left me rather unattached, I quite liked the animation here. The locations, snowy landscapes and characters all looked beautiful, especially these sugar-sweet little baby-donkeys. I'd recommend it to watch with your kids, not even necessarily during the Christmas days (if you're okay with them witnessing the stone-cold murder of a gingerbread woman), who probably gonna like stuff like a roasted turkey rising and singing "Everybody dance now"a lot, but I don't think it's one of the better animated Christmas tales for grown-ups unless you saw it as a child and built some kind of emotional connection to it.

A Christmas Classic

[jcbaldermann · 10/10 · 17 October 2021]

If you don't think this is the best Christmas movie you are wrong. This film has everything I want in a movie. It will fill your heart with so much joy it will give you Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This movie doesn't have a signal flaw and it is a great watch. 10/10.

Shrek Christmas sucks!

[tankace · 5/10 · 26 September 2016]

I,in all honesty, consider the Shrek movies as some of the best animated features (especially the first one) in the history of animated movies, but this short isn't on par with the movies, for it is boring and the story is from the top three of the most generic Christmas stories.

Really from all the characters in the business Shrek's Christmas stories should be at least interesting, as the character and his friends themselves. But no they wasted the opportunity. In general if you ever see "Something: Christmas Special" then run away, because 95% of the times is going to be an disappointing experience.

The animation maybe good, but this doesn't add any value to the product. It is like someone gave you a bike with broken wheels ,which is painted with beautiful colors. OK it looks nice ,but if it can't do its job then is a waste of time and money period!

To conclude my hating if you want to watch an animated feature center on Christmas go watch A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Great Christmas fun- if only had it been a tad longer

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 25 December 2009]

Shrek the Halls is great Christmas fun, not as good as the first film, but on par with the second and an improvement on the third. My only problems with it though were that I felt it could have been longer by about say 10 minutes, and the pace was a tad too fast in places. Still it is hugely enjoyable, that still maintains the charm and humour of the film franchise and offers some delicious moments. My favourite moments were Gingy's Christmas story of horror and Puss losing himself playing with a bauble, both of which had me and my whole family in hysterics. The animation is simply great, the soundtrack is delightful and the laughs are plentiful. The characters are just as likable as they were in the movies, though Shrek is a real Scrooge, and Gingy especially is a scream here. The voice acting is professional enough, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas the standouts as Donkey and Puss. All in all, enjoyable fun for Christmas Time. 8/10 Bethany Cox