Shrek (2001) voices Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, Vincent Cassel, Peter Dennis, Clive Pearse, Jim Cummings directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson Movie Review

Shrek (2001)   4/54/54/54/54/5


Shrek (2001) voices Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz

Myer's Forest Grump

Shrek, a large green ogre, is less than impressed when he finds his space invaded by donkey who is on the run from the Royal guards and even less than impressed when all kinds of fairytale creatures also invade his space thanks to the scheming of Lord Farquaad. Having set out with Donkey to sort this matter out he makes a deal with Farquaad, he will go and rescue Princess Fiona who as with any princess is waiting for her one true love. The trouble is that not only does Shrek like Fiona but Fiona has a rather big secret.

They say too much of a good thing is bad for you and whilst I loved "Shrek" when I first saw it thanks to a little relative who I swear had it playing 24 7 I soon came to dislike it. Thankfully after 5 years of avoiding anything to do with "Shrek" I sat down to watch the first movie again and everything which I had first loved was back and found myself spending an enjoyable 90 minutes full of fast paced fun and frolics.

Shrek (2001) voices John Lithgow, Vincent Cassel

That is the thing about "Shrek" it is fast, jokes are fired off incredibly quickly yet it doesn't have that feel of desperation where the writers throw everything including the kitchen sink at the audience as pretty much every single joke works. From the opening scene where we meet Shrek leaving the toilet and scratching his back side to the torture scene involving the Gingerbread Man it is just full of so much comedy. And it is all comedy which works at so many different levels with simplistic humour for children, naughty humour for teens and some adult humour in there as well which frankly makes you feel like a child again.

It is not just the humour as the choice of soundtrack is inspired as out are all the traditional orchestral pieces and in came a contemporary soundtrack. We go from an opening which features "Allstar" by Smash Mouth through to the likes of "I'm a Believer" as well as of course the great "Hallelujah".

But to make this contemporary sound with fast humour come together you also have the perfect voices and with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz they had them. Both Myers and Murphy have the humour in their voice, the ability to make every word sound funny whilst Diaz brings that bossy chick element to her character.

What this all boils down to is that I could go on because even after a decade "Shrek" is still a fantastic animation. So if like me you grew tired off it due to over eager children playing 24 7 when it first came out I say revisit it as you will be surprised at how good it still is.


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