With Shrek 2, DreamWorks Animation has accomplished the impossible. By making a follow-up to the enormously popular 2001 animated film Shrek without losing any of the film’s heart or humor, DreamWorks has not only defied all odds; they have also solidified their position as a genuine threat to Disney’s long reigning stronghold on the animation market.
>From the moment it was released, the original Shrek was lauded by both critics and audiences: an uncommon occurrence in today’s society. Through its wickedly satirical humor and surprisingly moving subtext, DreamWorks managed to create a modern family classic. The film exceeded all expectations at the box office, and even went on to win the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. With so much success, a sequel was inevitable.
But DreamWorks sure did get it right.
Shrek 2 is an ingenious follow-up to an already witty film. Despite the enormous pressure, DreamWorks has managed to recapture the intelligent flair that made the first one so special. Not only does Shrek 2 sidestep all the pitfalls that most sequels usually succumb to; it even manages to outperform its predecessor in terms of overall hilarity.
After returning from their tropical honeymoon, Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are greeted with an invitation to Fiona’s hometown of Far Far Away, which her parents rule over. The meeting between Shrek and Fiona’s father (John Cleese) does not go well, to say the least. The King does not appreciate the fact that his daughter married an ogre, and he is even less enthusiastic over her grotesque transformation.
Meanwhile, a certain Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) is not pleased. In a transaction that took place many years ago, Fiona’s parents promised their daughter’s hand in marriage to the Fairy Godmother’s son, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett). To avoid punishment from the Fairy Godmother for breaking their deal, the King must remove Shrek by any means necessary.
The highlight of Shrek 2 has to be the innumerable number of subtle details DreamWorks has crammed into every frame of the film. Far Far Away, a direct parody of Beverly Hills, is crammed to the brim with sight gags, including stores such as Versarchery, Farbucks, Saxon Fifth Avenue, and Tower of London Records. With so many cleverly concealed jokes, this is an obvious instance of a film that will only enhance itself upon further viewing.
As was clearly evident in the first film, Shrek 2 works on two entirely different levels depending on a viewer’s age. Kids will likely enjoy the over-the-top slapstick, while there are a number of jokes that will easily sail right over youngsters’ heads.
If there is one complaint to be made about the film, it is the somewhat irregular pacing. Although the movie never becomes boring, the first half in particular drags noticeably. However, any lack of hilarity in the first 30 minutes is more than made up for in the second half, particularly the final half-hour. There is literally a series of scenes in which the amount of laughter is tear-inducing. A sequence involving the elongating of Pinocchio’s nose made me laugh harder than anything I’ve seen in years.
Shrek 2 is rounded out by an excellent cast. Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers are effective as the leads, but the true highlights of the film are Eddie Murphy and newcomer Antonio Banderas as Donkey and the assassin tabby Puss In Boots, respectively. Their comic timing is impeccable, and Banderas in particular brings great charisma to his role. Jennifer Saunders is also perfectly evil as the menacing Fairy Godmother.
I highly recommend Shrek 2. Not only does the film provide some of the funniest bits in recent years, it also has a true moral about accepting other people’s decisions. DreamWorks has accomplished the impossible in not letting down the extremely high expectations generated by the first film. Shrek 2 is just as good, if not better, than the original, and I look forward to DreamWorks’s future animated offerings.