Review: Shrek (2001)

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Shrek

Rating

Director

Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson

Screenplay

Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, Roger S.H. Schulman, Cody Cameron, Chris Miller, Conrad Vernon (Book: William Steig)

Length

1h 30m

Starring

Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, Vincent Cassel, Peter Dennis, Clive Pearse, Jim Cummings, Bobby Block, Chris Miller, Cody Cameron, Kathleen Freeman

MPAA Rating

Review

The computer-animated picture has become a staple of modern animation. This year sees the release of DreamWorks’ latest picture, “Shrek,” the fairy tale story of an ogre who finds true love.

Shrek (Mike Myers) is an unassuming ogre of standard upbringing. He’s living in the forest, using earwax for candles and scaring torch-bearing villagers. Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow), ruler of the kingdom, has declared that all fairy tale creatures must be rounded up and relocated. Among them is a talking Donkey (Eddie Murphy) who miraculously escapes and finds refuge with Shrek in the swamp.

After the remainder of the fairy tale creatures escape and seek sanctuary in Shrek’s swamp, he travels to the palace to see Lord Farquaad and demand he get them out of his swamp. Farquaad says that he will do so on ONE condition. If Shrek can rescue a fair damsel in distress for the Lord’s betrothal, he will gladly remove the creatures from the swamp.

Shrek and Donkey begin an epic quest to rescue the damsel, Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), from her castle prison. Fiona has her own fair share of secrets and their journey back is filled with romance and controversy.

“Shrek” proves to be a hilarious and unusual journey into fairy tale morals. The entire vocal ensemble is pitch perfect and enjoyable to listen to. Myers is virtually unrecognizable in the beginning, but his style is apparent and evident to the very end. Murphy, despite being woefully unnecessary in Disney’s “Mulan” proved that he can take a joke-burden character and make it funny and important.

Directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson take a rather intriguing view of a fairy tale parody disguised as a fairy tale itself. Perhaps not a true parody, “Shrek” does poke fun at several modern fantasy archetypes. One of these instances is when a gingerbread man is being interrogated by Lord Farquaad who bites off one of his legs to make him talk while the gingerbread man spits frosting in his face.

“Shrek” is based on the book of the same name by William Steig. A team of writers adapted the book to the screen with great vigor and originality. There are few slow moments in the film and much is attributed to the terrific pace. Every aspect of the film is in balance until the closing credits where the fairy tale creatures celebrate to an updated version of the Monkees classic “I’m a Believer” performed by rock group Smash Mouth. While it’s a lovely remix, it’s neither necessary nor interesting.

“Shrek” is the kind of family picture that adults and kids can see together. While there are plenty of jokes for kids that parents will easily get, there are subtle bits of adult-natured humor that adults will love.