It's a colourful, largely authentic experience and there's certainly a lot more to it than there was to the original Shrek spin-off. However, that's not to say they won't like it. Although perfectly serviceable in many respects, sitting down with the nippers to play the game of Shrek 2 is going to be rather tedious for the rest of us. Sadly, the same is not true of the game developed by Luxoflux to tie in with the film's release. “Shrek 2” should be revisited not only because of its objectively compelling plot or vibrant characterizations, but because it now stands as a classic in the animated genre.Few would deny that one of Shrek and its sequel's greatest successes on the big screen was managing to tell a basic child's story in such a way that it genuinely appealed to both children and adults. The last 15 minutes of the film for example, managed to blend emotion, a musical number and comedy in a jam-packed action sequence that remains unparalleled.ĭreamWorks went up against the powerhouse that is Disney and managed to make a film that was starkly different for animation at the time and has lasting cultural relevance. Yet “Shrek 2” is different in that its humor and style managed to achieve both. Sure, some Disney films of the time have reached meme status like “Shrek 2,” while others have reached the same level of critical acclaim. Disney’s early 2000s filmography varied with badly received sequels (“The Jungle Book 2”), earnestly tender animations (“Finding Nemo”) and live-action films targeted at teens (“Freaky Friday”). Interestingly, all of the traits that make the “Shrek” franchise great is what makes it different from the movies that Disney was releasing at the time. The scene is so fast that it may be easy to miss Donkey shouting “police brutality!” or Puss in Boots being caught with a baggy of “catnip,” but upon rewatching the scenes prove that the humor of the film stand the test of time and is surprisingly not distasteful. For example, the “Cops” reference during the latter half of the movie as Shrek, Donkey and Puss in Boots are being chased is even funnier due to the rather adult jokes that follow. Instead, it adds to the nonsensical worldbuilding and comedic elements that are present throughout. There’s so much content and detail packed into the movie, but it feels far from overwhelming. Moreso, Mongo’s tragic death during the climax is downright Shakespearean. Fiona and Shrek’s relationship is straight out of a rom-com and Shrek and Donkey’s friendship can be interpreted as a buddy comedy. Arguably better than the original, the premise of “Shrek 2” transcends genre. Even now, the final scene and its accompanying musical number, “Holding Out For A Hero,” garners much praise and analysis.Īside from its riveting soundtrack - what other animated movie can feature David Bowie’s “Changes” so flawlessly? - the plot of “Shrek 2” makes for a great sequel. The soundtrack reached top 10 on the U.S. Considering that the highest-grossing animated movies at the time included “The Incredibles” and “The Polar Express,” both of which depended on instrumentals DreamWorks’ reliance on popular music was a bold move - but one that paid off, literally. DreamWorks matched the tone of the scene with popular songs perfectly now, a lot of the songs are recognizable because of the role they had in the film. Like “Shrek,” the soundtrack of the sequel is top-notch in a way that no other animated films were at the time. The endearing montage that follows, set to “Accidentally in Love” by Counting Crows, rivals even those of classic rom-coms. “Shrek 2” flexes its incredible animation skills from the get-go during a high-powered montage featuring Prince Charming, which transitions the movie seamlessly from its predecessor to this new phase in Shrek and Fiona’s life. Audiences can look back at the film fondly not just because it’s an excellent sequel or its superior animation (during the same year that “Polar Express” was released, was no small feat) but also because of its status as a cultural landmark and the impressive juxtaposition to Disney films that it poses. And for good reason: despite being up against notable sequels during the same year, like “Spider-Man 2” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” the ogre and donkey duo left their cultural mark on the silver screen. “Shrek 2”’s cult following didn’t start recently - the film made more than five times their budget at the box office, became the highest-grossing film of 2004 and was critically acclaimed. Post Views: 4,678 Courtesy of Dreamworks Pictures
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