2008 Woodie Awards
Even Happier Ever After
"Shrek 2" lives up to the original.
Michael Ordoña
Issue date: 5/26/04 Section: Valley Life
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Once you get over how flat-out incredible the animation in "Shrek 2" is, you can enjoy it in every other way.
"Multilayered" is the best way to describe this triumphant sequel, which is suitable for kids but has plenty of rewarding moments for adults. It's simply packed with pop culture references (10 points if you spot the "Spinal Tap" nod!), at one point going through a rapid-fire series of film parodies. There's plenty going on that kids simply won't get, but they won't care - they'll be laughing too hard at the stuff they do get.
All of the major vocal talents from the original are back, with Mike Myers as Shrek, the cantankerous ogre with a heart of gold; Cameron Diaz as his ladylove, Fiona, and Eddie Murphy stealing scenes again as Donkey. New are the always-welcome John Cleese as Fiona's viciously bigoted father, Julie Andrews as Fiona's wonderfully mellow mother, Rupert Everett as preening mama's boy Prince Charming and Jennifer Saunders of "Absolutely Fabulous" as the scheming Fairy Godmother.
The most welcome addition, however, has to be Antonio Banderas as the would-be assassin Puss in Boots. Just as Catherine Zeta-Jones seems to have found her niche as a cell phone pitchwoman, Banderas has never been more entertaining than as the voice of the lethally cute Puss, whose animators obviously love, love, love cats. Puss stalks about on his hind legs with a posture that is somehow meerkat-erect and slumping at the same time, getting full mileage out of his super-suave catness.
The plot is sort of an extension of the '60s racial tension classic, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" in which Fiona brings new husband Shrek home to meet her extremely proper parents for the first time. Meanwhile, the Fairy Godmother and her namby-pamby son, Prince Charming, are scheming to shoehorn their way into the monsters' wedded bliss. There's plenty of magic, music and quick-witted humor to carry the story along, and it all ends with a nice bow tied around it.
There is also a clear self-empowerment message, similar to the original's "be who you are" thrust. The commentary on bigotry never feels heavy-handed but instead forms a firm, rewarding foundation on which the prancing gingerbread men and three blind mice can play. Most of the creative team from the first movie is back, and they benefit from technological advances that make the animation downright breathtaking at times.
Suitable for all ages, good-natured and almost hyperactively smart, "Shrek 2" has all the earmarks of being a major hit.
"Multilayered" is the best way to describe this triumphant sequel, which is suitable for kids but has plenty of rewarding moments for adults. It's simply packed with pop culture references (10 points if you spot the "Spinal Tap" nod!), at one point going through a rapid-fire series of film parodies. There's plenty going on that kids simply won't get, but they won't care - they'll be laughing too hard at the stuff they do get.
All of the major vocal talents from the original are back, with Mike Myers as Shrek, the cantankerous ogre with a heart of gold; Cameron Diaz as his ladylove, Fiona, and Eddie Murphy stealing scenes again as Donkey. New are the always-welcome John Cleese as Fiona's viciously bigoted father, Julie Andrews as Fiona's wonderfully mellow mother, Rupert Everett as preening mama's boy Prince Charming and Jennifer Saunders of "Absolutely Fabulous" as the scheming Fairy Godmother.
The most welcome addition, however, has to be Antonio Banderas as the would-be assassin Puss in Boots. Just as Catherine Zeta-Jones seems to have found her niche as a cell phone pitchwoman, Banderas has never been more entertaining than as the voice of the lethally cute Puss, whose animators obviously love, love, love cats. Puss stalks about on his hind legs with a posture that is somehow meerkat-erect and slumping at the same time, getting full mileage out of his super-suave catness.
The plot is sort of an extension of the '60s racial tension classic, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" in which Fiona brings new husband Shrek home to meet her extremely proper parents for the first time. Meanwhile, the Fairy Godmother and her namby-pamby son, Prince Charming, are scheming to shoehorn their way into the monsters' wedded bliss. There's plenty of magic, music and quick-witted humor to carry the story along, and it all ends with a nice bow tied around it.
There is also a clear self-empowerment message, similar to the original's "be who you are" thrust. The commentary on bigotry never feels heavy-handed but instead forms a firm, rewarding foundation on which the prancing gingerbread men and three blind mice can play. Most of the creative team from the first movie is back, and they benefit from technological advances that make the animation downright breathtaking at times.
Suitable for all ages, good-natured and almost hyperactively smart, "Shrek 2" has all the earmarks of being a major hit.
