Green With Envy.

Rating: Null/10 (2 June 2004)

Superior sequel to the good, but somewhat over-rated and even annoying original has the titled character (voiced by Mike Myers) going to meet his new in-laws (voiced by John Cleese and Julie Andrews). An event-filled honeymoon with new wife Fiona (Cameron Diaz) starts the ball rolling and the film's early momentum is enough to sustain the animated production until a wonderful second act where comedy, drama and crazed sequences make "Shrek 2" an immediate American classic. Once again Donkey (Eddie Murphy, still the best character of the series) is back and also a super-slick feline named Puss in Boots (voiced superbly by Antonio Banderas) gets added to the mix. Of course there are always antagonists in fairy tales and here a Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) and her son (Rupert Everett, aka the Prince Charming) look to push Shrek out of the picture so the Prince can marry Fiona, possibly giving the more traditional ending that we have come to expect. "Shrek 2" is a technological marvel (the first one was as well though), but I thought this film was a lot smarter than the first because there are more vivid characters in the key roles and they are all developed better than before. The first film became an animated "road picture" that eventually wore out its welcome to an extent (the original was still very good, but it never reached its full potential with me). Pop culture dominates "Shrek 2" as subtle references to American classics like "From Here to Eternity", "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "E.T.---The Extra-Terrestrial", "Ghostbusters", "The Little Mermaid", "The Fabulous Baker Boys", "Mission: Impossible" and "The Mask of Zorro" make the movie feel like a trumped-up cartoon trip down memory lane with slightly stranger and funnier results. Also non-cinematic references to the Academy Awards, the popular show "Cops" and even O.J. Simpson's unforgettable drive in his white Ford Bronco add hilarious flashes and well-timed laughs. Overall the movie is about as perfect as it can be. It already makes a case to stand tall with animated masterpieces of the past. 4.5 out of 5 stars.