Shrek: Still One Big Fat Green Hypocrite

For months, critics and watchdog groups have been all over DreamWorks' cartoon ogre Shrek for sending conflicting messages. On the one hand, he's a PSA spokesman promoting exercise and a healthy lifestyle to kids. On the other, he's also been hired to shill for junk food like Sour Skittles, Pop Tarts, Sierra Mist and special Cheetos that turn fingers and mouths green. Well, the message just got a little more convoluted, with McDonald's unveiling their "Go For Green" campaign and Shrek Happy Meals, featuring white-meat chicken McNuggests, apples with optional low-fat caramel dipping sauce and regular or chocolate milk. Adding to the huh-factor of Micky D's global campaign, which launches May 11 (to support Shrek The Third's May 18th theatrical release), is an online component where children can log on a website and earn rewards for how much physical activity they've done. So to sum it all up: Shrek stands for healthy high-calorie fast food and encourages kids to exercise by asking them to sit in front of a computer. Now that's not confusing at all.

McDonald's Unveils Global 'Shrek' Movie Promotion [Ad Age]
Shrek on a diet in McDonald's Happy Meal gig [Reuters]