Intermission: Fast-paced, witty 'Shrek 2' no run-of-the-mill sequel

|tab|

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

There were two great animation features released in 2001, which made it tough on the wonderful "Monsters, Inc." at Oscar time. This was the first year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had a "Best Animated Feature" category, so whoever won would have a large feather in the cap. "Monsters" was contending with the hilarious, state-of-the-art animated and expertly written "Shrek."|ret||ret||tab|

Released by DreamWorks, the script poked a lot of fun at rival Disney and also seemed to have been written as a stand-alone project. Its enormous success made a sequel inevitable, and I'll hand it to the principals at DreamWorks Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg (who was once head honcho at Disney) and David Geffen for realizing a film like Shrek could not have just any run-of-the-mill, do-it-for-the-bucks follow-up. |ret||ret||tab|

While Shrek 2 lacks the overwhelming visual aspect of the original and I don't mean the animation isn't done as well, it's just we already knew what to expect its script is full of the same fast-paced, witty dialog that appeals to kids as well as adults, great characters and another true fairytale story. Of course, there are a few good digs at Disney and a lot of satire aimed at Hollywood in general.|ret||ret||tab|

In the first film, Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz) was rescued from her dragon captor by the ogre Shrek, voiced by Mike Myers in the Scottish brogue he's employed many other times with great results. Fiona falls in love with and marries Shrek. She chooses to break the spell that keeps her looking beautiful and it's revealed she, too, is rather ogre-esque. |ret||ret||tab|

In the end it was declared this was a fairy tale after all "And they lived happily ever after." So a sequel seemed out of the question. Keep in mind this is an industry that found a way to do a sequel to "The Never Ending Story." Never underestimate it.|ret||ret||tab|

"Shrek" was based on William Steig's children's picture book, and the producers credit him again in "Shrek 2," but the story was devised by Andrew Adamson and the screenplay is credited to Adamson, Joe Stillman, J. David Stem and David N. Weiss.|ret||ret||tab|

The film opens in Shrek's beloved swamp and quickly reintroduces us to Shrek, Fiona and their hyper sidekick, Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy.)|ret||ret||tab|

Fiona has just gotten word from her parents, the King and Queen of Far Far Away. They want her to return to the kingdom for a wedding festival. They are unaware that Fiona's husband is a green behemoth and she, too, has changed physically. Shrek thinks the trip is a bad idea, but Fiona insists. So off they go.|ret||ret||tab|

The trip, which is a long one (far, far actually) gives Donkey a great excuse for a lot of wisecracks and along the way the first of several new main characters is introduced. Antonio Banderas voices Puss-in-Boots, a swashbuckling cat whose greatest weapon is one of the film's funniest gags.|ret||ret||tab|

Upon the group's arrival in Far Far Away an animated version of Hollywood complete with overt consumerism, a sign in the hills and even Joan Rivers at a red carpet event Fiona's parents are less than happy.|ret||ret||tab|

At their first meal together the King (John Cleese) lets Shrek and Fiona know he is greatly displeased. While the Queen (Julie Andrews) tries to remain a bit more positive, she believes Fiona could have done better.|ret||ret||tab|

Enter another new character, the Fairy Godmother. Voiced by the brilliant British actress/writer Jennifer Saunders (she played Edwina on "Absolutely Fabulous," which she also wrote) Fairy Godmother has a castle full of spells and a stuck-on-himself son, Prince Charming. She figures sonny boy is just right for becoming Fiona's new husband.|ret||ret||tab|

Being a completely different sort than the dragon from the first film, Fairy Godmother is a perfect villain to keep this sequel fresh. Saunders rises to the task and, while most will still single out Eddie Murphy's Donkey role, I found Saunders to be the standout here. In reality, all of the major players are great and the actors voicing them as well as everyone with creative input on the film seem to be having a great time and are performing at the top of their game.|ret||ret||tab|

Adults will appreciate the double entendres and jabs at popular culture while the youngsters will be wowed by the animation and will readily pick up on the plot. There are a number of snappy musical numbers as well, including versions of David Bowie's "Changes" and Ricky Martin's "Living la Vida Loca."|ret||ret||tab|

Like its predecessor, "Shrek 2's" basic message and this was the strong point in Steig's book is: be yourself and be happy.|ret||ret||tab|

This film is sure to make everyone, from audiences to the accountants at DreamWorks, very happy, indeed.|ret||ret||tab|

[[In-content Ad]]