(PG)
With the voices of:
Shrek: Mike Myers
Donkey: Eddie Murphy
Princess Fiona: Cameron Diaz
Lord Farquaad: John Lithgow
DreamWorks presents a film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson. Written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman and Roger S.H. Schulman. Based on the book by William Steig. Running time: 90 minutes. Rated PG (for mild language and some crude humor).
It seems that the critics can't say enough good things about this movie. Count me as one of them. This is a truly hilarious and charming movie. I went to go see it on a Friday night at 9:30 figuring that it would be me, my friend and a few other people with a passion for animated movies there to see it. As it turned out, the audience was packed. No one there was under 20 years old, and everyone laughed the whole way through the movie.
Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy, the two principal characters that play Shrek, the ogre, and his donkey respectively are just as funny as when you watch them in live action films when they are at their best. Cameron Diaz, the voice of the princess, does a good job of portraying the spoiled princess living in a kind of dream world.
This is a fairy tale destined to be a children's classic. Ironically, much of the humor is based on spoofing other classic fairy tales.
The premise of the movie is that the midget Despot, Lord Farquaad. Has decided to get rid of all the annoying fairy tale creatures in his kingdom. He dumps them somewhere on the border of his kingdom, which happens to be right at the front door of Shrek's home. Shrek dislikes these little creatures as much as the King. He is a loner, who is bitter about the outside world because it has rejected him as an ugly monster.
In spoofing these fairy tale creatures we are treated to hilarious scenes with the Three Blind Mice wreaking havoc in Shrek's home. The wolf from Little Red Riding Hood has taken over Shrek's bed. My favorite is when Gipetto sells Pinocchio as the King's men are rounding up all the creatures.
What is great about his movie is that it takes a number of fairy tale conventions and turns them on their heads. (Minor spoiler in this paragraph regarding a big laugh) One day the princess is out prancing around, happing to be alive. She begins singing and a bird sings along with her. Normal enough right? But in this fairy tale, when the bird can't keep up with the high notes, it explodes! That was pretty funny. But then the camera focuses in on the bird's nest with three eggs left behind by the blown up bird. The audience thinks, "How sad." Cut to the next scene where the princess is frying up the three eggs! This was one of the biggest laughs in the movie. (You probably have to see it to get the full effect)
In addition to raiding the nests of birds she has just killed, the princess also burps and fights Kung Fu, Matrix style. These types of movies are traditionally aimed at kids (and secondarily, their parents). This one is actually rated PG, which was a somewhat bold move by Dreamworks. They were clearly going after a slightly older audience with this movie. There are references to WWF wrestling, Gladiator, compensation for a small… you know what, the Matrix, and Austin Powers ("you're headed for a smacked bottom!").
As one might expect, the story has a "They all lived happily ever after" kind of ending. But it is not the conventional, ultra-happy kind of ending one might expect from a fairy tale.
Everyone should go check this movie out. It is hilarious and charming. (And if you got to a late night showing, you will probably be there with a grown up audience.) This movie also illustrates the potential for quality animated movies with widespread appeal. Maybe this is the first animated movie you have seen in a while. If that is the case and you walk out hungry for more such movies, here are a few recommendations: Iron Giant, Tarzan, Mulan, Batman Beyond Return of the Joker, Titan AE, and Princess Mononoke.
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