Whenever Shrek (Mike Myers) is sent away on a quest — be it to rescue a princess, find a potion or, in the
case of this movie, seek out a royal heir — it's never more than a
case of brief, breezy there - and - back - again, with one or two minor diversions (usually some kind
of ambush in a forest), plus perhaps a campfire -
side heart - to - heart, during which the irascible ogre will at least partially come to terms with
whichever self - doubt that's plaguing him — this time his confidence in himself as a father.
Apart from the
cases at hand, the underlying thrust
of the series seems to be that
whichever side you work for — be you agent, double agent, lone wolf, acting on principle or just for the pay — espionage will mess you up.