Shrek 3 & Doc's Karaoke Bar & Grill
By Teri Bayus
Published May 23, 2007 The Coast News page 6
I had several dilemmas this
week. One was that the only new movie opening was another "3"
film, the other was my sister was dumping her daughter in Pismo Beach
for the summer. All these situations had the potential to be painful
and yet I resolved myself to make the best of them. Perhaps the most
pressing issue was how to get a dinner and a movie article done when
it involved a goodbye dinner with 10 people all of different generations
who have nothing in common except DNA?
We decided to have our "Goodbye-to-Momma, Hello SLO-Town"
dinner at Doc's Karaoke Bar and Grill on Higuera and Nipomo (the old
Tortilla Hats). My sister wanted to reenact the final episode of the
Gilmore Girls and sing, "I Will Always Love You" as a farewell
present to her daughter. It sounded like a joke in my living room, but
after three shots of Grey Goose, it made perfect sense. That is the
thing about Karaoke- it feels like a ridiculous idea at first, but after
some brave people get up and sing, you add alcohol, it suddenly becomes
the best inspiration you have ever had. You are instantly turned into
Barbara Streisand. It was a blast.
Doc's food was perfect for our mixed crowd of teens, twenty something's
and forced into the situation Dads. We started with a mixture of appetizers
for all to share including mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, breaded
mushrooms, french fries and sweet potato fries (which came with a honey
mustard sauce that made them yummy). The boys ordered the most expensive
thing on the menu, as they live off Top Roman when Mom isn't treating-
but it was good and large. The special was seafood fettuccini filled
with fresh mussels, shrimp, clams and scallops served over noodles.
A surprisingly good dish for bar food. The Dads ordered burgers. One
tried a Buffalo burger, which he went on and on about how delicious
and tender it tasted. The teens all shared quesadilla's and nacho's
which was the perfect mix of Americanized Mexican ingredients. I had
the chef salad that was huge, fresh and well made. Doc's also serves
sandwiches which all looked good with large helpings of quality meat
and ingredients.
The best part of Doc's is the Karaoke. Everyone eventually found a song
to their liking and the DJ (I think that is what they are called) helped
to goad the scared ones out of their seats with good mixing of sound
and lights. Not to be missed was my husbands' rendition of Bohemian
Rhapsody, truly moving. My sister even talked me into a duet of "My
Favorite Things" from the movie "Sound of Music." It
was a sad, sweet moment. We all had a great time and the teary goodbyes
played like an old fashion movie with a heart felt song belted across
the bar.
Off we went to see the only movie that everyone agreed wouldn't kill
them, "Shrek The Third." As far as plots go, this one was loose.
We have Harold, the frog king of Far Far Away (voice of John Cleese),
dying (a hilarious segment that recalls Paul Reubens death scene in Buffy
The Vampire Slayer) and trusting the kingdom to either Shrek (Mike Myers
in his Scottish brogue) or the monarch's wimpy nephew, Arther (Justin
Timberlake). Meanwhile, defeated Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) is reduced
to performing in a cheap dinner theater.
This is where the originality ends. That does not mean the rest of the
picture is bad - it is at least entertaining. If Shrek The Third were
a person, he'd be yelling at' the neighbor kids to get off his lawn and
eating dinner at the Denny's at 3:30 p.m.
Cases in point: Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) finds out she's pregnant
and like every expectant father in TV sit-corn history, Shrek is frightened
by his future parental obligations. Prince Charming enlists all of the
fairy tale villains in the land to join with him, invade Far Far Away
and change the outcome of nursery rhymes. To accomplish this feat, they
will capture all the important women of Far Far Away, Fiona, Queen Lillian
(Julie Andrews), Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel
(voiced by SNL cast members Cheri Oteri, Amy Sedaris, Amy Poehler and
Maya Rudolph, respectively) to make them become ninja warriors.
Even the goofy antics of sidekicks Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss-In-Boots
(Antonio Banderas), as well as the vocal talents of Regis Philbin and
Larry King (as the two ugly stepsisters), bring only smiles and smirks
instead of side-splitting laughs like in the old days.'
Only Monty Python alumni Eric Idle, as Merlin the Magician is remotely
funny and original among the new characters.
After a battle featuring more windbag philosophy than daring-do, the rightful
king is crowned
and Fiona goes on to have a litter of baby ogres, who - like the Ewoks
in Return of the Jedi -look cute, but add nothing special to the film.
As usual, the animation of this series is first-rate; unfortunately, the
story does not match the technology and those 'who appreciate the combination'
will be left feeling a bit empty inside. ''Kind of like a mother dropping
ping off her first born - she shouldn't worry too much, for like "Shrek
the Third" Aunt Teri and Doc's Karaoke bar will keep her baby entertained
while she tries on the SLO life.
Ten Bayus can be reached at mailpluspismo@aol.com or chained to her desk
at Prestige Business Sales and Acquisitions in Pismo Beach, trying to
help locate employment for her niece. If you need a good, young employee,
drop me a line.
© 2007 The Coast News, Grover Beach, CA
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