That cat!

Rating: 8/10 (26 July 2004)

Shrek 2 begins at Shrek and Fiona's honeymoon. Just where we left them in the first part. Everything goes just fine for our favourite ogres, but tranquility won't last that much. Soon they'll have to leave they're peaceful marsh to go and visit Fiona's parents at the kingdom of Far Faraway. And it's in Far Faraway where the real fun begins.
I'm not very keen on animation movies. I've just watched a few ones (Shrek 1 & 2, Monsters Inc., Titan A.E, Final Fantasy...), and I really don't consider them as real cinema. But let me tell you: It does not matter to me if Shrek 2 is real cinema or it isn't, because it has the more lucid, witty, and funny script that I've seen in the last years. It goes without saying that Shrek 2 is quite better than the first part. The basis is the same: parodies of classic fairy tales (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocho, Puss In Boots) , recent Hollywood hits (Lord Of The Rings, Mission: Impossible, Meet The Parents...), and American TV shows (E!, Cops...). OK, there're dozens of movies that rely on that (Scary Movie, Hot Shots, Top Secret..), and I hate almost each and every one of them; but whereas in most of that movies parodies are brute and clumsy , in Shrek they're just brilliant: you'll kill yourself laughing again and again.
As for the characters we got Shrek, the Donkey, Princess Fiona, and all the fairy tale creatures (Pinocho, Three Little Pigs, ...), and all the ones we met in the first part. Of course, thre're a lot of new incorporation's: and the best of all'em is the Puss In Boots. In the Spanish version (the one I've watched), Antonio Banderas dubs the cat as he did in the English one. I've always mistrust Banderas' capacity for dubbing. My fellow country-man (he's from MÃ¡laga, just like me) is quite a good actor, so temperamental and versatile; but he dubbed some of his first characters in Hollywood, and he made clear that he wasn't born to dub himself. Anyway, I must say that he's made a superb job dubbing the cat. The best character (for me) from Shrek 2. Each and every one of the cat's appearing are just hilarious (the one at the dungeons!!!). Of course, Shrek and the Donkey are so funny too, but I can't help it: the cat kills me.
Last but not least let's talk about the animations themselves: JUST ASTONISHING! As I've said before I haven't watched many animation movies, but I can't figure out how Shrek animations could possibly be overcome. Character's expressions are incredible. They do it even better than the most of present-day actors! Ben Affleck o Mark Wahlberg wouldn't be able to look as innocent as Puss In Boots (in the scenes in which he does). Well, you know what I mean.
Verdict: the best animation movie I've ever watched.
My rate. 8/10