You don't go to a "Shrek" movie for the plot.

You go to have your funny bone stroked by the series' patented blend of fairy tale tradition and pop cultural references.

And Shrek the Third delivers.

For those who think story matters, a quick synopsis: Our boy Shrek (Mike Myers) finds himself the heir to the throne of Far, Far Away. Ogres being ill-suited to statesmanship, Shrek is desperate to find someone more suited to the job.

Leaving the newly pregnant Fiona (Cameron Diaz) behind, our green hero journeys with Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas) in search of Fiona's cousin, the Doogie Howser-ish Arthur (Justin Timberlake). They find the unimpressive young nobleman in a boarding school that's a cross between Hogwarts and Zip Code 90210.

Meanwhile the vain and power-mad Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) is plotting to seize the throne of Far, Far Away.

What matters here is the virtually nonstop barrage of visual and verbal jokes dished by writers Andrew Adamson, Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman, Chris Miller and Aron Warner.

There's a very funny sequence in which Shrek, unmanned by impending fatherhood, has a nightmare filled with dozens of crawling, crying, pooping, home-destroying chartreuse babies.