It's tough for me to review anything new with Shrek in the title these days, mainly because DreamWorks Animation's first big movie franchise lost me at 2007's Shrek the Third. That also marked the point when Shrek's box office mojo started to decline: Shrek the Third made less cash than its predecessor (granted, that film was the highest grossing animated film of all time until last year) and DreamWorks Animation canned plans for a fifth film after 2010's Shrek Forever After.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised that I mildly enjoyed DWA's Halloween special Scared Shrekless. Okay, that may be damning with faint praise, but more jokes worked than didn't . . . I just wish the laughs were bigger.

DreamWorks Animation Home Video Presents Scared Shrekless on DVD

Shrek (Mike Myers) has always loved Halloween, and he's happy to include Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and the kids in his favourite pastime: scaring villagers. But when his home is invaded by Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas), Donkey (Dean Edwards; yup, Eddie Murphy decided to sit this one out) and the rest of the gang, Shrek decides to up the ante. Spending the night in Lord Farquaad's old castle, Shrek and his pals swap scary stories with the winner being crowned King of Halloween. Much reference humour ensues.

• Halloween 9 The Movie

• Halloween Mask Scarecrow

• Costume Dog Halloween Infant

• Halloween Reading Passages

• Halloween Pumpkin Tradition