For the sequel, this core of three, is mixed with some old and some new characters, hoping that more is better and greater. Fiona and Shrek are now married and back in the Swamp from their honeymoon. Donkey has stayed behind, but no more. Soon they are setting out, this time to celebrate their matrimony at the invitation of Fiona’s parents (voices by Julie Andrews and John Cleese) in Far Far Away Land (a satire on Beverley Hills and Hollywood).
The plot thickens, as Shrek knew his in-laws could not accept an Ogre as a son-in-law, and didn’t want to go; once there, he wants to pack up and leave. He discovers that when young, Fiona had a fantasy that she would become Mrs Fiona Charming. Suddenly Shrek acquires a series of enemies who want to displace him with a rival, a real shallow Prince Charming (Rupert Everett). These include King Harold, who as usual has a secret and is subject to threats from Sweet Pea, the raucous and evil Fairy Godmother (a singing and talking Jennifer Saunders) who wants Fiona to live “happily ever after” with her Prince Charming. They are told that the immortality endings in all fairy tales never include a Shrek. Shrek is instructed, “Stop living in a fairy tale, she’s a princess and you’re an ogre”.
The King hires a slayer of ogres to eliminate Shrek. We are now introduced to a new character, Puss-in-Boots (the fantastic voice of Antonio Banderas) and he steals the show. The confrontation between Donkey, Shrek and Puss-in-Boots will go down in digital animated film history as one of the more outlandish and ingenious. You’d never believe how cute Boots can be or what guile and cunning he can display.
Boots actually saves the film, as it drifts into a sleazy episode of transformation for Shrek and Fiona, where for awhile they fall in the trap of passing as white, until they both wake up and realise they are better off as ogres. Donkey even becomes a giant white stallion, but when he resumes his original shape and colour his friends tell him, that he is “still a noble steed”. Now what kind of mixed message is this to people of the Majority World?
To the rescue are the Three Blind Mice, Pinocchio, Gingerbread Man, Muffin Man and others. The little wooden puppet is given some critical lines about personal items of clothing, which may be all many children between six and ten take from the film, though they may remember some of the songs, particularly Boots and Donkey’s duet Livin’ la Vida Loca. There is fun for all ages in this sequel. A good satire operates at many levels.
Shrek 2 is rated PG because of teasing, fear and fighting, and references to bodily functions. It is one hour and 45 minutes long. But stay to the end after the credits if you want to see Donkey reunited with his Dragon love from the original Shrek.
The script is by Andrew Adamson, Joe Stillman, David Stem and David Weiss, from the book by William Steig. Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon directed it. Harry Gregson-Williams did the music, while Michael Andrews and Sim Evan-Jones edited it. From Dream Works Pictures.
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