A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Shrek

Date Viewed: 7/8/01

Details:

Voice talent: Mike Meyers

Cameron Diaz

Eddie Murphy

John Lithgow

Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson

Score: ++

The Review: Delightful, witty, slyly funny: a bit of 21st-century Fractured Fairy Tales. There's magical whimsy, a society of outcasts in dire trouble, gladiatorial games, a quest, danger, a daring rescue, romance, true love -- sounds like a description of The Princess Bride! -- all laced (nay, deeply saturated) with good humor, one-liners, throw-away sight gags, parody and pastiche. There's a reclusive ogre (Meyers) practicing (but not succeeding) at being a curmudgeon; an enthusiastically gregarious talking donkey (Murphy) on the lam from the law; an exceedingly vain (as well as exceedingly diminutive) princely fop (the law, such as it is: Lithgow); and a beautiful but impatient princess (Diaz) in distress (kidnapped by a dragon, no less) but with dark secrets.

The animation is simply wonderful, and the plot and texture of the production so rich it can be watched numerous times with new veins to mine on each viewing. The characterization is right on, and (as with many animated features in the past few years) the physiognomy mimics well the voice talent. Mike Meyers manages to voice a consistently Scottish ogre; THIS role is his forte, not the tiresome Austin Powers or similar surrogates.

Not only an excellent animation, but an excellent movie, well-deserving of many honors and much time.

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