SHREK 2

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: mild sexual humor

Rated:

Launching off the wild popularity of the first installment in the Shrek and Fiona fairy tale, Shrek 2 is a barrel of fun, with all the great original characters and a host of new ones in a completely unique update. Happily married and just returning from their honeymoon, Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are surprised to receive an invitation from Fiona's royal parents to attend a wedding celebration in Far Far Away, the homeland of Fiona's childhood... before she was banished "to the highest room of the tallest tower," in a castle guarded by a dragon (now happily settled down with Donkey) to await her Prince Charming. Shrek is against the notion, since after all they have transformed into ogres and it's more than likely the kingdom will take after them with pitchforks. But Fiona wants him to meet her parents and so the happily wedded couple start off with Donkey (Eddie Murphey) for the faraway land.

Expecting a handsome prince and their human daughter, King (John Cleese) and Queen (Julie Andrews) are far from pleased to meet their new in-laws. The King starts scheming on how to get rid of his new son-in-law. Pressure is put on him by Fiona's Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) to get rid of Shrek and replace him with her son, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett). Sneaking away in the night into the Poisoned Apple, a local pub, the King makes an arrangement with Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) to slay the ogre, but a twist of fate brings Puss into their confidence. Together he, Shrek, and Donkey sneak into the Fairy Godmother's magical factory and make off with a special potion that will cause him and Fiona to live "happily ever after"... with a catch. Shrek must win a kiss from Fiona before midnight in order for the potion to work, and Prince Charming is wasting little time attempting to persuade Fiona that he is her hubby in human form.

Among the chaos is a collection of wonderful jokes on classic fairy tales, modern movies, and a few off the cuff real-life personas, such as the Sir Justin (Timberlake) poster in Fiona's childhood room, or the Starbucks on a street corner in Far Far Away. DreamWorks continues its hilarious digs at the Walt Disney Company through various tongue in cheek references to their animated films. Shrek and Fiona encounter a redheaded mermaid on the beach. Fiona throws her to the sharks. When zapped with Fairy Godmother's wand by mistake, two bystanders turn into Lumier and Cogsworth from Beauty & the Beast. There are also adorable homages to classic and recent films... like Fiona's wedding ring being hewn in the fire, then Shrek dropping it, and it falling in slow motion over her ring finger (just like Frodo Baggins in The Fellowship of the Ring; there are three other winks at the trilogy, including a murky figure in the Poisoned Apple, and two Ents arm wrestling at a corner table), the theme from Mission: Impossible playing in the background as Pinnochio repels down to free the imprisoned heroes, Puss carving a P in true Zorro form onto a tree, and even the Gingerbread Man screaming "It's aliiiive!" (stolen out of Van Helsing and the original Frankenstein films.)

This film is, quite simply, adorable. I mean that in the most earnest terms... Shrek is nothing short of adorable in human form, Puss in Boots can be completely adorable when using his earnest, huge eyes, and the ending sequence when we see Donkey's family is also adorable. The animation is fantastic and the musical score is full of modern adaptations. The plot is also surprisingly apt and even better than the first. It's pretty much a mockery of everything about fairy tales, but done in such a cheerful, upbeat, humorous way that it can get away with its many jokes. There are some minor content issues, but much of them are downplayed. The Fairy Godmother is moderately trashy and wears a revealing gown with a slit up the side while lounging around on a piano. She has a hunky, whip-wielding "hottie" for the driver of her flying carriage, and they sing a few mild innuendoes together. Peasant girls fawn over Shrek in human form and gasp with excitement when Donkey implies they need to "get him out of his clothes" (and into something more princely). Pinocchio is asked to tell a lie in order to get his nose to grow -- instead, we learn that the off-the-cuff lie is true (he's wearing women's underwear, and it's a thong).

Puss in Boots says Prince Charming "sounds dreamy," but it could or couldn't be a gay reference (he later leaves with a couple of girls). The Ugly Stepsister who runs the Poisoned Apple looks and sounds like a man dressed in drag, but it could also merely be a joke on how hideous she is. (She/he later jumps Prince Charming.) There's some mild violence. A bird is stunned after crashing headfirst into a wall (he was gawking at the "royal couple"), and Donkey accidentally kicks Shrek in the groin (he was aiming for a malicious cat digging his nails into Shrek's legs). Pinocchio copies a Michael Jackson move while break dancing. There's also a couple of instances of flatulence and belching. Puss in Boots very realistically hacks up a hairball. These flaws should go over children's heads, and aren't offensive enough to steer adults away. Even more likable than the original, Shrek 2 is wonderful family fun.

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