Not only are there creatures stirring, but they're far larger than mice (except for the Three Blind Mice, of course). Seems Shrek's motor mouthed BFF Donkey (Eddie Murphy) has decided to crash their intimate celebration of good cheer, bringing along a gaggle of their fairy-tale friends (Three Little Pigs, Pinocchio, etc.) for a far more raucous party than the mortified Shrek really wanted. Even worse, it seems like everyone wants a shot at telling their own variation on the December rituals of jolly old Saint Nick.

First up is Donkey, regaling the delighted children with visions of ten-story tall waffle men dripping with butter and maple syrup. But he's soon to be topped by that suave feline lothario, Puss 'n' Boots (Antonio Banderas), who regales them with the tale of a dashing Santa "Claws" who slashes his "S" symbol into the mantelpiece and dazzles with his fleet footwork delivering presents to all the good little amigos and amigas...until he gets distracted by swatting at the fuzzy little ball on the tip of his Santa hat.

But not everyone has such warm and fuzzy feelings about the season...Gingerbread Man (Conrad Vernon) lays out a yuletide terror tale depicting Santa as a screeching, Godzilla-sized monster who snatches Gingy's Christmas cookie sweetheart and gobbles her up right in front of his horrified gumdrop eyes.

Soon, Shrek finally boils over, shooing his uninvited guests out the door with barely-concealed rage at how his simple family celebration was steamrolled under by all their frenetically busy holiday cheer. But when Fiona bundles up the babies and leaves in a huff elicited by Shrek's thoughtless treatment of their friends, it causes the green guy to re-examine his thoughts and feelings about the holidays and the people closest to his heart.

Following Shrek The Third, the television special Shrek The Halls (originally broadcast on November 28th, 2007 on ABC) acts like an epilogue to the Shrek family saga that's as wispy and insubstantial as cotton candy...but equally as sweet. Given the brash, television sitcom-y tone of the three feature films, Shrek The Halls is in the ancient tradition of the obligatory "Christmas" episode that practically every comedy program begins trotting out the second the Halloween decorations come down on November 1st. All the usual trimmings are here..the curmudgeonly Scrooge who finds his icy exterior melting under all of the warming glow of family and friends, the gentle ribbing of same, and the obligatory fart jokes. Oh wait, that's a Shrek exclusive ("Better out than in, I always say...").

While this series of films has essentially had it's fifteen minutes in the pop-culture spotlight (much like Myers' shtick in general...hellooooooooooo, Love Guru!), I still have an undeniable affection for these characters that transcend the once-novel, now commonplace skewering of fantasy conventions that are a hallmark of the previous movies. Myers, Murphy and Diaz have become intrinsically linked to these characters now, for better or worse, and it's impossible to imagine their little world without them.

Sadly, it appears that Dreamworks will never stop suckling at this particular teat until they've drained every last drop of box office milk from it...2010 will bring the deeply unnecessary Shrek Goes Fourth, with a fifth Shrek movie waiting in the wings after that. While the series has held up admirably thus far, I kinda wish they'd leave well enough alone. Shrek's married, with children, so there's little left to explore with these characters. I would prefer to leave them here, enjoying a warmly humorous holiday farewell, but I guess that's why I'm not holding down a $100,000 a year salary...

Presentation
Like the previous Shrek DVDs, ...The Halls looks absolutely smashing, with a pixel-perfect presentation that's as good as SD can possible look. The DVD offers a choice between the original 1:85.1 ratio and a cropped 1:33.1 version. You must choose, but choose wisely, for as the correct ratio will add picture information at the sides, so the wrong ratio will take it from you. The 5.1 audio offers plenty of whiz-bang surround activity and the obligatory these-will-be-dated-in-six-months collection of light pop and rock tunes.

Extras
The usual kiddie crap. Holiday sing-alongs, previews, a Dreamworks jukebox...move along, nothing to see here.

Bottom Line
It's more Shrek, kids! If that phrase makes your blood run cold, then this short TV special will not change your opinions much, but if you still harbor a soft spot for the Jolly Green Ogre, then Shrek The Halls will offer more of the same stuff you've come to enjoy over the past eight years. Fart in the fireplace and pour a cup of rancid eggnog and enjoy.