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Shrek
Disney
Rival Hopes to Cash-In on New Animated Feature
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Mike
Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow lead a cast of
fairytale characters down a fun and witty path for Dreamworks' latest
3-D computer-generated animation. Shrek (Myers) is an ornery ogre who
wants nothing but complete privacy. After Shrek scares off a posse of
men who have come to kill him, he finds himself in a new dilemma
thanks to the evil Lord Farquaad |
(Lithgow).
Farquaad systematically rounds up all the fairytale characters in
order to kick them out of his kingdom. He then places these displaced
citizens onto Shrek's personal swamp. Shrek wants the refugees off
his land, and confronts Farquaad. Shrek reluctantly takes his talking
wise "ass" donkey pal (voice of Eddie Murphy) along for the trip.
Meanwhile,
Farquaad no longer wants to be just a lord, he wants to be a king!
But in order to be a king, he has to marry a princess. Farquaad is a
coward, and suffers from other physical shortcomings, so he seeks
someone else to rescue the princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) for him.
Shrek agrees to be the rescuer if Farquaad removes the fairytale
squatters from his swamp. The main catch is that Fiona is being held
hostage by a giant, red, fire-breathing dragon!
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The
lead character voices are what make "Shrek" an enjoyable
film. Murphy plays a wonderful talking donkey that never shuts up;
Lithgow is one of my favorite villains ("Ricochet,"
"Raising Cain," "Cliffhanger"), and Mike Myers
("Austin Powers" series, "Wayne's World") uses a
slight British accent when voicing for the brute Shrek. You totally
expect Shrek to look at Princess Fiona and say, "Do I make you
horny, baby?" Parents--fear not--he does not say that! |
Mike
Meyers stars as the voice of the Title Character in Dreamworks'
animated summer blockbuster Shrek |
Favorite
scenes include a "Matrix" type fight scene, and a
hilarious scene where one of Farquaad's guards tortures the
Gingerbread Man. Directors Andrew Adamson ("Romeo Must Die"
and "Lethal Weapon 4") and Victoria Jenson team up with
Dreamworks ("Antz") to bring us this film that's fun for
the whole family. "Shrek" gets four out of five stars
because it is enjoyable for the whole family. It should win over
summer audiences of all ages as proved by the opening weekend box
office results. This film is based on the children's book
"Shrek" written by William Steig. The film is rated PG for
mild language and some crude humor.
Review
by David Fago
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