Jon Monsarrat review: funny, original, even better

Rating: 8/10 (22 May 2004)

It's easy for a sequel to repeat the first movie in a formulaic way. Austin Powers 2, another Mike Meyers film, certainly did. But Shrek 2 is even better than the first film. Unlike the original, Shrek 2 has a strong plot. Although it's a kid's film, Shrek 2 has a healthy dose of material for older folks so it works 100% as a film for adults.
The computer graphics are beyond spectacular. I work in the field and I can tell you, when it comes to loose fabric clothing and hair, it's photorealistic now whereas just 10 years ago it would have been nearly impossible to do at all. Amazing.
But similar to Toy Story, the effects do not overpower the plot. There's a real story and it's touching and contains a few twists. A few criticisms. The ending was too syrupy. The music didn't work for me... rock tunes not matching the mood and uninteresting "musical" melodies. And, like the original film, I did not find the donkey to be annoying but lovable. Just annoying. Neither the donkey nor the new hairy companion do much of anything in the film.
Who should see this film:
-- All kids
-- People who like comedies, this one's even more accessible for adults than Toy Story.
I'll give Shrek a well-deserved 8 out of 10.