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>> SHREK 2 (2004)

Starring: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, and more ...
Director: Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon
Genre: Animation




“shrek 2” is a very different film than its predecessor. it’s less scatological, darker and strangely crasser in a slick, commercialized sense, almost as if its good-natured heart was blackened by overexposure and box-office success. despite the hilariousness, i don’t think that “shrek 2” have the WOW effect of the original “shrek”. it’s an excellent movie, i have to admit. i was laughing so hard throughout the entire movie. it was very entertaining, no doubt about it, but the audience has already know the concept of “shrek” from viewing the first movie. still, this well worth your ticket price to see. most of the original cast is back and are still very funny. however, what stole the show is puss in boots, voiced by antonio banderas.

the movie starts as the follow up of the “.. happily ever after.. “ moment from the original film. shrek (mike myers) and princess fiona (cameron diaz) are back from their honeymoon. as soon as they arrived in the swamp, the kingdom of far far away, where the princess’ parents live, invited the newlywed for a visit. the king (john cleese) and queen (julie andrews) are anxious to see their beloved daughter who had married her “prince charming”. the entire kingdom also wants to greet the new husband of their beloved princess, not knowing the “husband” is not exactly a handsome prince as they expected, but a green ogre with bad hygiene and worse table manners.

the couple arrive, joined by donkey (eddie murphy), who is mourning the mood swings of the fire-breathing dragon he nuzzled at the end of the first film. far far away is one big medieval beverly hills, with celebrities like snow white and cinderella living in estates behind gated walls and a “far far away” sign that riffs the “hollywood” banner in the L.A. hills.

a struggle erupts between the king, underwhelmed at fiona’s choice of husband, and shrek, who realizes his bride once dreamed of marrying prince charming (really, his name is charming! :P) and living happily ever after. little does shrek know the king has entered into a secret pact with fairy godmother (jennifer saunders), a greedy corporate potion-maker, and a mother to the impossibly vain and pouty prince charming (rupert everett), to claim the princess’ hand and gain power in the kingdom. the king also calls upon famous ogre hunter “puss in boots”, but the courtly feline eventually joins forces with shrek, much to donkey’s dismay.

the humor comes, once again from murphy, whose donkey is so genuinely funny and clever that he very nearly steals the film. except that it’s stolen by banderas as a rogue puss in boots outlaw hired by the king to do in shrek. his puss is so endearing and charming in his less-than-honorable pursuits and so feline in his self-deluded pride, that the film brightens and magic happens whenever puss appears on the scene.

in reality, this animation film is a parody and satire to the hollywood lifestyles and the celebrity status, the corporate greed, and so on and so forth. but after all, this is an animation, an entertainment to kids and some adults. over the years, we’ve seen how dreamworks has successfully created animation films not only enjoyable by kids, but also adults in all age. and shrek 2 is no exception. as in the original, shrek 2’s musical score is first-rate, with songs by counting crows and tom waits, as well as retooled old hits. and the computer animation is gorgeous, definitely a worth see.

a high-spirited, fun-filled comedy adventure, shrek 2 can probably consider as summer’s best family film. my advice: go watch and see, prepare to laugh your ass off!


>> rated by :: sLesTa | [ ]

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