A film review by Craig J. Koban

SHREK 2

2004, PG-13, 105 mins.

Shrek: Mike Myers / Donkey: Eddie Murphy / Fiona: Cameron Diaz / Puss-in-Boots: Antonio Banderas / King Harold: John Cleese / Queen Lillian: Julie Andrews / Prince Charming: Rupert Everett

Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon /  Written by J. David Stem, Joe Stillman and David N. Weiss, based on the characters by William Steig

SHREK 2 is just an infectious and joyous delight.  I say that with a huge degree of surprise. 

The original SHREK was such a winning amalgamation of classis fairy tales, wickedly humorous characters, and witty satire that it was just so difficult to think that a sequel could possibly be as fresh and original as its predecessor.  SHREK was a milestone and watershed film in the world of computer animated features and it firmly helped to establish CG has the predominant way to make these types of films.  Yet, the original was meant to be a stand-alone, with no thoughts of sequels.  However, the first film was so successful that the suits at DreamWorks decided to make another (always a bad sign).  However, despite my overall concerns, SHREK 2 is a most definite winner.  It’s as charming and cute as the original while still maintaining that raw satirical edge that established the first so well. 

SHREK 2 essentially starts where the first film left off, with SHREK (who is a giant green ogre, just in case you’ve been living under a rock somewhere!) has married Princess Fiona.  If you have not been forced to sit through the first one a thousand times with you kids, the first film detailed their meeting and how Shrek broke the Fiona’s curse.  She started off as a beautiful woman and ended up being a big green ogre like Shrek himself because, well, because it’s not about being pretty…it's about being in love with the person.  Aaaaaaawww.

Shrek and Fiona are newlyweds enjoying life, as the hilarious opening montage shows them frolicking in the meadows, kissing on the beach (in a cute homage to FROM HERE TO ETERNITY) and just enjoying the ogre lifestyle to its fullest.  The couple eventually receives a summons from the Kingdom of Far Far Away Land as Fiona’s parents wish to meet her new husband.  Of course, this involves a terribly long journey, made even more emotionally torturing when Donkey tags along for the ride, who begins the sequence demonstrating that Donkey is kind of the secret star of the film.  Every scene with him just sings, and is painfully droll to boot.

The arrival at Far Far Away Land is the film’s comic high point.  The Land is a cross between Disneyland and Beverly Hills, and it further illustrates just what a smart social and class satire  these Shrek films are.  They are not just cute and amusing for kids, but there are real attempts at offering some scathing humour that only adults could appreciate.  When the happy couple arrives to “meet the parents” Harold and Lillian, the crowd is so shocked and astonished but the grotesqueness of the couple, that even the pigeon that is released during the ceremony stops in mid-flight, stares in astonishment, and slams right into a wall headfirst.  I have not laughed so hard in a theatre this year.

Eventually the plot takes a turn for the worse, as the sinister Fairy Godmother plots with the handsome Prince Charming to win Fiona’s affection.  This leads to a series of scenes involving potions and spells, some of which can change Shrek and Fiona into human beings.  Meanwhile, Harold wants to take care of his little ogre problem, goes to the local Far Far Way Land brew house, and hires a hit man. The hit man, unfortunately, is a Zorro-esque swordfighting cat with the voice of Antonio Banderas named Puss n’ Boots.  The casting of Banderas as the voice is a stroke of  genius, and he has a terrible amount of fun with the part.  I especially liked the scene where Puss n’ Boots was going into attack Shrek and is hampered when he has to cough up a hairball.

Fans of the first will not be disappointed in SHREK 2, as several characters from the first make appearances here.  Among the most notable are the Gingerbread Man, Three Blind Mice, the Mirror on the Wall, and of course everyone’s favourite possessed toy…Pinocchio.  Pinocchio probably occupies the film’s other big laughs, especially in a climatic scene where we find out, to our horror, what kind of underwear he has on.

The voice work in the film equals the successful work of SHREK.  Mike Myers has created one of the most endearing comic creations of the last few years in that big ol’ green guy.  And who cares if he sounds like Fat Bastard from AUSTIN POWERS, Myers brings a real warmth and tenderness to the character…you really do feel for the guy, especially when things don’t go his way (and they usually don’t, especially when you’re seven feet tall and green!)  John Gleese and Julie Andrews also have fun with their roles as Fiona’s parents, as does Rupert Everrett as Prince Charming, who is just too charming for his own good, bordering on manic, bipolar obnoxiousness.  But alas, it's Eddie Murphy as Donkey that once again gets all of the best laughs.  Funny, with all of the crap that Murphy has been delivering us poor viewers over the last few years, who would have thought that his most endearing, warm, and funny performance would be playing an ass?

The visuals of SHREK 2 are just mind-blowing and breathtaking.  It’s amazing the level of detail, color, and realism that CG animators can deliver to us now.  SHREK, in all fairness, is not supposed to be “realistic” looking, but there is so much energy, vitality, and warmth in the animation.  The characters FEEL real, and it’s amazing that the animators managed to top the first in visuals and scope.  My mouth hit the floor many times during the film, and if there is any justice in the world, these creators deserve some Academy recognition for their work here.  It’s some of the most beautifully realized computer animation I have ever seen.

CrAiGeR's other

Reviews:

SHREK THE THIRD (2007)   

SHREK FOREVER AFTER  (2010)  1/2 

And, for what it's worth, CrAiGeR's ranking of the SHREK films:

1.  SHREK 2  (2004) 

2.  SHREK (2001)  1/2

3.  SHREK THE THIRD (2007) 

4.  SHREK FOREVER AFTER  (2010)  1/2