It's rare for a sequel to top its predecessor, especially if the original is so wonderful, but Shrek 2 has succeeded. From the opening scene of the first film, when we meet the lovable green ogre as he scrunches up the pages of a fairy tale to use as toilet paper, the mischievous tone was established. Second time around, things are taken even further, at times bordering on the risqu - the moment Pinocchio is revealed to be wearing women's underwear being one example.
The sequel has the advantage of an audience only too eager to be reacquainted with old friends after a three-year absence. While many of the original cast and crew return, including Mike Myers as the voice of Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey and Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona, there have also been a few welcome additions. None more appealing than the swashbuckling romantic Puss In Boots, extravagantly voiced by Antonio Banderas. Puss quickly establishes a spiky relationship with Donkey as both compete for Shrek's affections and the primary role of "annoying talking animal."
It's as though the filmmakers, led again by Andrew Adamson, have allowed anything in, however silly and nonsensical. There are jokey nods to past movies like From Here To Eternity, Alien and Kill Bill. Plenty of topical references crop up (Justin Timberlake, Starbucks and Gap), along with some outdated ones (the OJ Simpson car chase is not only untimely but misplaced in a kid's film). There's also a bold soundtrack that includes Tom Waits, Nick Cave and a Buzzcocks cover.
Once again the film opens with the recital from a book. When we meet Shrek, he and the Princess have just been married. To celebrate the union, Fiona's parents summon the happy couple to visit them in their kingdom of Far Far Away. Hoping their son in law is of the handsome young prince variety, they are a tad disappointed, not to say shocked, to discover their precious daughter has in fact married a giant green ogre. In the hope of rectifying the situation, the King (John Cleese) solicits the aid of Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders). But being a rather evil and self serving Fairy Godmother she tries to wangle it so her narcissistic son Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) replaces Shrek as Fiona's hubby and heir to the throne.
Along the route to the inevitable happy ending, there are laughs aplenty, some of which are even aimed at kids. With the advancement in technology in the last three years, Shrek and Co. have been given a makeover, rendering them even more detailed than before. But the animation is only one element of Shrek 2 that's improved, ensuring that fans of the first film won't be disappointed.
