Animated Musical

Rating: Null/10 (21 May 2004)

Shrek II is as good a sequel as we have seen in quite some time. Since the animation bar was raised just a few years ago with the release of Shrek and Monsters, Inc. and Toy Story it is no surprise that this latest addition is welcome entertainment.
Following the adventures of the cast introduced in Shrek, such adult concepts as true love, romance, acceptance and redemption as they travel to Fiona's parents kingdom-world. It is therefore fairly engaging for adults and there is enough raw action to keep children in their seats.

My only concern is the reliance on comedy to employ flatulence and burping as standard gags. No one knows anyone that takes a small sip of wine and burps loudly at the dinner table, and I have always found this type of device the vilest attempt to ground a fantasy in some sort of reality. But this does not detract from the overall high quality of the total effect.
There is a scene well into the movie that may be the funniest recorded in any animated film ever. Simply stated, a series of events occur involving the law in the Kingdom and the principal characters, and in this moment Antonio Banderas' Puss In Boots character is the highlight.
The score of the movie is very good, and at times I wondered if having a soundtrack of the film would be something worth hearing later. I cannot recall an animated movie in which the musical choices were so good.