“Arrrggghh, I’m an ogre!”
“Shrek” is a great family movie that kids of all ages can enjoy. All Shrek (the ogre) wants to do is live peaceably in his swampy home and be left alone. Most people fear ogres and misunderstand them. Shrek’s used to the reactions he gets (mostly fear) and so hides away from most of society. But after Lord Farquaad starts rounding up all of the fairy tale creatures and exiles them to the swamp, many seek solace in Shrek’s home. To him, it’s completely unacceptable and he decides to leave the comfort of his swamp and travel to Farquaad’s castle to get him to remove the fairy tale creatures from his home.
Farquuad is a schemer and all-around not-so-nice guy. When he sees Shrek, his first order is to have him killed, but when Shrek makes mince meat out of all of the guards, Farquaad strikes a deal with him. Shrek must rescue the fair Princess Fiona from the castle of a nasty firebreathing dragon, bring her to the castle so Farquaad can marry her (and gain control of her kingdom) and then he’ll make sure the fairy tale creatures are gone from Shrek’s swamp. Shrek reluctantly agrees and so sets off on his journey with Donkey, one of the “fairy tale” creatures who joined Shrek on his journey to Farquaad despite Shrek’s trying to get rid of him. Shrek finds Donkey’s incessant talking a huge annoyance, but can’t seem to get Donkey to go away.
Shrek and Donkey eventually rescue Fiona from the dragon and the two take an instant disliking to each other, judging each other on appearances. Shrek assumes that because Fiona is beautiful, she’s a typical stuck-up princess. She assumes that because Shrek’s an ogre, he’s dumb and disgusting. But, as they get to know each other, they learn that each is quite the opposite of what they initially thought. Little does Shrek know that Fiona holds a secret…at night she turns into an ogre from a curse she was given at birth.
As Shrek and Fiona near Farquuad’s castle, their feelings for each other change and grow into something more than friendship, though neither knows what to do about it. After a misunderstanding, Fiona agrees to still marry Farquaad and it is up to Shrek, Donkey and the rest of the fairy tale creatures to make things right.
Shrek is a funny and insightful movie, and holds a good message for kids as well (the old “don’t judge a book by its cover” adage). Some of the jokes are geared towards adults and each time viewing it brings out new jokes that you tend to miss on first viewings. Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy, is probably one of my favorite animated characters of all times, and he has some of the best lines in the movie.
“Shrek 2” is as delightful as the first, and you can check out the review here. “Shrek the Third” is due out this summer and promises great laughs as well.
Starring the voices of: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, John Lithgow
Related reviews: