Shrek 2 Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)May 24th, 2004
"Shrek 2"
Following their fairytale honeymoon, newly-weds Shrek (Mike Myers) and Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) return to his beloved swamp and the contented couple settles into their happily-ever-after life. That is, until Fiona's parents, King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews), invite them for a little visit to their homey castle. The reluctant ogre agrees to go but he senses there are in-law troubles brewing in "Shrek 2."
The makers of the sequel to the incredibly successful 2001 original, "Shrek," have skirted the fairytale adventure of the first film in favor of a much more routine situation comedy style story that delves more into slapstick than imagination. Shrek, a character noted for his sullen cynicism and caustic wit, has become domesticated by his marriage to loving Fiona. Sadly, this taming of the beast causes the edgy, dark humor of the first to be usurped by a TV-style sitcom at times I almost expected canned laughter in the background.
The story, by Joe Stillman, J. David Stem & David N. Weiss, is father-in-law versus son-in-law battle of wills that is embellished with intrigue by Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders), who appears to be a kindly soul until you understand that the emphasis is on GOD-mother and not Fairy. Her burly bodyguards are also a giveaway to her shady hidden agenda as she uses blackmail to set up her son, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett), to take over the kingdom of Far Far Away by marrying Fiona. Fairy Godmother, owner of a huge potions and spell plant (looking a bit like the scare factory in "Monsters, Inc."), has ambitious plans and isn't going to let some ogre stand in her way. There is also a plot revolving around a hit man, or should I say hit cat, Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas), hired by the king to do Shrek in.
"Shrek 2" is a slick production and makes leaps in the computer-animation field over the original. The nuance of detail, textures and movement are blended seamlessly making the CGI palette a further challenge to traditional 2D animation. The makers couple this good look with clever spoofing and reference to a multitude of subjects, films, cultural icons and more - The Lord of the Rings ring; Spiderman; Hawaii-5-O; Hollywood and the HOLLYWOOD sign; Disneyland; Fast food (Friar's Fat Boy); Justin Timberlake; Monsters, Inc.; Raiders of the Lost Ark; Wizard of Oz; Barney's of New York; Alien; the punchline to the "A horse goes into a bar " joke; old gangster movies; Mission Impossible (the movie); Rodeo Drive; and, all manner of fairytales.
The triumvirate of vocal talents, as expected, is back for this second installment of what may drag on into a series (I, personally, have had enough of the Ogre Tales there can be too much of a good thing). Mike Myers puts his Scottish burr onto the title character but it feels lackluster when compared to the first. The story moves away from Shrek and Fiona, reducing their dimension in the overall story. Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy reprise their characters of the Princess and Donkey, also without much added from the first, though Murphy always gives an enthusiastic performance to his vocal characters.
The vocal talents of the supporting cast fit the bill but the new additions fail to fill the boots of John Lithgow's outrageously bellicose Lord Farquar. John Cleese is a disappointment as King Harold, although this may be a product of his animated stature. I had a problem with Cleese's long, gangly persona shoehorned into the diminutive king. Julie Andrews does yeoman's work but is saddled with being little more than the understanding mom figure. Rupert Everett is bland as the charmless Prince Charming. Antonio Banderas does get some mileage as the suave gunsel, Puss in Boots, who has a change of heart.
The cleverness of "Shrek 2" carries a manufactured feel, rather than crafted, missing the spontaneity of the first. Some might say that this is harsh criticism of the sequel; that it is near impossible for the follow up to better the first. This is mostly true but there are exceptions "Toy Story 2" is, at the very least, the equal of its source and proved that imagination can infuse originality into a sequel. I had hopes that "Shrek 2" would achieve this same level of excellence but got good instead of great. It is highly entertaining with some laugh-out-loud moments and lots of giggles. I give it a B.
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