Predictable doesn't mean bad. It was a story, after all, about Shrek, whom we know from previous movies and about fairy tale characters that we know from childhood. How they interact could be (and is) somewhat predictable to adults. On the other hand, how it's handled, the nuance of story-telling and the quality of production make this a wonderful movie outing for the whole family. Get over pretentious, get over lamenting predictable, and let the kid in you enjoy one fantastic animated treat.