Shrek 2

• Title:  Shrek 2
• Director:  Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon
• Date:  2004
• Studio:  Dreamworks Pictures
• Genre:  Animation, Musical, Romance, Comedy
• Cast:  Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews, Antonio Banderas, John Cleese, Jennifer Saunders
• Format:  Widescreen, Color Animation
• DVD Format:  R1, NTSC

"Stop!  I have misjudged you!" -- Puss-in-Boots
"Join the club -- we have jackets."  -- Shrek
"On my honor, I am obliged to accompany you until I have saved your life and you have spared me mine." -- Puss-in-Boots
"I'm sorry, the position of annoying talking animal has already been taken."  -- Donkey

In the second Shrek movie, Fiona and Shrek return from their honeymoon to an invitation from Fiona's parents to go visit them in Fiona's home kingdom of  Far Far Away.  Fiona thinks this is a great idea and is sure her parents will love Shrek.  Shrek is considerably less sure, and is convinced meeting his in-laws will be a disaster.  They make the long and boring trip to Far Far Away (depicted as Hollywood) only to have the King and Queen be shocked that Fiona has married an ogre, especially the king.  Fairy Godmother, meanwhile, a conniving woman, plots to get her son, the swarmy mama's boy, Prince Charming married to Fiona, as the King had promised.

This round, it's Shrek's turn to show his insecurities, especially about his looks as an ogre.  He takes a potion which turns he and Fiona human (and Donkey into a white horse).  Fairy Godmother and the King try to get Fiona to fall for Charming, but in the end -- she tells Shrek she loves him.  And she wants to be with the ogre of  her dreams.

Like the first Shrek film, Shrek 2 is filled with great sight gags, inside jokes, word play, and reversals of typical Disney-style fairy tales.  It also pokes fun at the Hollywood Fairy Tale as well.  Puss-in-Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas is a great addition to the cast.  And, like the first film, the music is great (particularly Fairy Godmother belting out a jazzy rendition of  "Holding Out for a Hero").

Recommendation:  See it!
Rating:  4 of 5 Stars
Next Film:  Shrek The Third