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SHREK 2
Review by Michael Jacobson
Voices:
Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, John Cleese,
Julie Andrews, Jennifer Saunders, Rupert Everett
Directors: Andrew Adamson, Kelly
Asbury, Conrad Vernon
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Studio: Dreamworks
Features: See Review
Length: 92 Minutes
Release Date: November 5, 2004
“This
is Fiona’s choice.”
“Yes,
but she was supposed to choose the prince WE picked out for her!”
Once
upon a time, a handsome prince charming set out to rescue a lovely princess from
a terrible spell with a kiss. Sadly
for him, he arrived too late…but lucky for us, a plucky ogre had beaten him to
the punch!
Shrek
2 is a
continuation of that story. When we
last left Shrek (Myers) and Fiona (Diaz), they had just joined up in wedded
bliss and were ready to settle happily every after in the swamp.
But as it turns out, only one thing could scare an ogre like
Shrek…in-laws.
Reluctantly
accepting an invitation from Fiona’s parents, the king (Cleese) and queen
(Andrews) of Far Far Away, the newlyweds set off with their furry sidekick
Donkey (Murphy) across a fairy tale land to their kingdom, only to find that the
royal couple aren’t too keen with their daughter’s choice of beau!
As
it turns out, Fiona’s Fairy Godmother (Saunders) had designs of her
own…namely, for her son Prince Charming (Everett) to wed Fiona, turn her back
into a human, and inherit the kingdom in the process!
And now that Shrek is having some doubts about his ability to make Fiona
happy, the time has come for her to make her move.
But
you can’t keep a good ogre down, and soon Shrek and Donkey team up with a new
hero, the plucky Puss in Boots (the delightful Banderas).
Together, they decide to use a bit of the Fairy Godmother’s own magic
against her, and possibly give Shrek the identity he needs to make things right
for his bride and her family!
Shrek
first gave
audiences a taste of a computer animated world of wonder where fairy tales came
to life and the potential for spoof and satire seemed endless.
Shrek 2 offers more great comedy…my favorite gag involved a
certain mermaid we all know and love. Great
stuff!
The
magic comes again not only from the animation, but from the spirited cast.
Mike Myers continues to embody Shrek with all the heart and unease
we’ve come to love from him, while Eddie Murphy keeps Donkey as a comedy
relief extraordinaire. But
audience’s hearts went out to Puss in Boots, a smooth, lovable kitty who
simply HAD to be voiced by Antonio Banderas.
But
however you measure the formula, the end result was a smashing success…Shrek
2 became the biggest box office hit of the year, and would no doubt like to
follow its predecessor to Oscar glory. It’s
a colorful, cheerful crowd pleaser from top to bottom.
Video
****
Dreamworks
makes great looking DVDs, and their animated offerings continue to excel.
Shrek 2 is a visual banquet, with beautiful colors and impressive
detail all the way. Lines are crisp and clear, and no compression, grain or undue
artifacts spoil the terrific overall effect.
Audio
****
The
5.1 soundtrack is lively and clean, with plenty of animated action to keep front
and rear stages busy. The use of
music throughout, especially incorporated popular songs into key scenes, is
quite nicely done. Dialogue is
clean and clear throughout, and dynamic range is strong.
Features
****
The
menu pops up, and…you’re looking at a Brady Bunch screen with all the
characters from the movie! You can
listen to their banter, or pick the square that takes you where you want to go.
There
are two commentary tracks, one by the directors, one by the producer and the
editor. Several production
featurettes take you into the making of the movie, or to meet the talented cast,
or an up close look at Puss in Boots. Computer
glitches were chronicled in a strange but funny gag reel of sorts.
And you can take a look at sneak peek of Dreamworks Animation’s next
feature, Madagascar.
The
Dreamworks Kids selection will keep the little ones happy, with over twenty
games and activities, along with a music video from Counting Crows and a
sing-along with the Fairy Godmother. You
can also read some funny articles in the Far Far Away Times, or read more about
the production notes and cast members.
Finally,
you can sit in on a session of Far Far Away Idol, hosted by none other than
Simon Cowell himself! After
listening to the characters sing their hearts out, you get to choose the
winner…very clever, and lots of fun!
Summary:
