A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

The Evaluation System Reviews by Title Reviews by Date

Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: Shrek 2

Date Viewed: 6/5/04

Details:

Voice talents: Mike Myers (Shrek)

Eddie Murphy (Donkey)

Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona)

Julie Andrews (Queen)

Antonio Banderas (Puss 'N Boots)

John Cleese (King)

Rupert Everett (Prince Charming)

Jennifer Saunders (Fairy Godmother)

Directed by: Andrew Adamson & Kelly Asbury

Score: 1/2

The Review: Not as good as the first one, but entertaining -- a Pixar animated nouveau fairy tale that picks up after Shrek and Fiona's honeymoon. (Some things are best left to the imagination...) The overall scenario is a command visit to Shrek's in-laws: all the classic situation comedy routines attending parents who are not expecting anything of what they'll encounter, and newlyweds totally unaware of numerous background plots and machinations. Lacking some of the novelty and panache of the original, but with partial compensation by over-the-top performances by Antonio Banderas (the bandit Puss 'N Boots), Jennifer Saunders (a twisted fairy godmother) and Rupert Everett (the vain prince with unachievable expectations).

As before, there are tons of throw-away jokes and visual humor that begs repeated viewing, although I have not yet submitted myself to this. When you're embedded in seeing it for the first time, combined visual/verbal puns are likely to be missed (such is my rationalization and self-justification): e.g., it took a friend, long afterwards, to jolt my memory about the white bronco.

(17-July-04)

Back to the chronological list of reviews