Review: Shrek 2
May 19, 2004; Regal Falmouth #5
* * * ½ right now; * * * in ten years (out of 4)

It has proven very, very difficult for a film sequel to outdo the original. Recent examples like the two Matrix sequels, the Austin Powers sequels, and Jurassic Park 3 show that in most cases, filmmakers are better off to start from scratch. Only in rare cases, such as Toy Story 2 or The Empire Strikes Back, does a second outing surpass the first. It's a close one, but you may be able to add Shrek 2 to that list.

This one picks up where the first film left off, montage-style. After a brief look at the honeymoon of Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz), they return to the swamp, only to be met by a lonely Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and an invitation to visit Fiona's parents in celebration of her wedding. The catch is that the King and Queen (John Cleese and Julie Andrews, respectively) aren't aware that it was Shrek who rescued their daughter; they are expecting Fiona to return on the arm of the dim-witted surferboy Prince Charming (Rupert Everett). Naturally, Shrek’s arrival is both unexpected and unwelcome, and after being threatened by Charming’s mother, the Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders), the king must enlist the help of top-notch hitman Puss-In-Boots (a show-stealing Antonio Banderas) to resolve the Shrek dilemma. Obviously, no one’s plan can go off without a hitch, and silliness ensues.

While Myers, Diaz, and Murphy are billed as the stars, and deliver good performances that match those they gave in the first Shrek, they are all but forgotten anytime Banderas’s feline personal takes the screen. Puss is written so beautifully, some cross between Zorro and Inigo Montoya of The Princess Bride fame, only it’s funny cause it’s a freakin’ cat. Banderas is given some of the best lines in the script, and he uses them in conjunction with some hilarious character animation to pull focus away from the romantic issues, and just ham it up for as long as he can. Being able to ham when you’re not physically on camera must be difficult, but Banderas pulls it off, and it’s apparent he had a great time doing it.

The downfall of this movie is the same as the original’s – in ten years, half of the references made may be lost on a newer generation. While no one expects Starbucks to go anywhere, something may change that might make it much less funny to see people fleeing from one “Farbucks” to another right across the street. To this generation, that’s funny because it is a reality; there’s no telling how long that will hold up. Some of the film references will stand up more reliably (the Ghostbusters sequence got me good), some will fall flat when presented to a ten-year old in 2015. Movies that rely this heavily on time-specific circumstance can’t help but age poorly.

But that’s later. Right now, Shrek 2 plays on everything absurd, silly, or ridiculous in our world, along with poking its share of fun at the blockbuster films of the last few years. Add in beautiful animation (though still a half-step down from Pixar), writing that will draw laughs from ages 8 to 80, and performances that couldn’t be better with the real actor, and Shrek 2 is a damn good time. Even though some of the jokes may be lost on the kids of the next generation, there's still a fun story to be had, and enough mainstream humor to hold its own, even if time makes it less socially aware than the movie is now, at its peak.