Formulaic and Dull, Nowhere Near the Original

Rating: Null/10 (4 August 2006)

DreamWorks did not expect the original "Shrek" to become the success it was, being a troubled production that didn't seem like it would do a thing. "Shrek" fortunately broke out and became a sleeper hit for the company, and it was certainly an improvement over the films they did before it. ("The Prince of Egypt", "Antz" and "The Road to El Dorado") It was basically a 90-minute riff on Disney, but it had a good story and it was a real blast. Let a sequel or two follow. It was inevitable.
"Shrek 2" is ultimately a letdown of a sequel, given DreamWorks' attitude towards animation. Coming off weak films like "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" and "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas", DreamWorks' head honcho Jeffrey Katzenberg did away with traditional animation or anything that didn't have sitcom dialogue and pop culture jokes. "Shrek 2" ultimately set the course for a majority of DreamWorks' future efforts.
There was a lot of potential in a "Shrek" sequel, and more exploration of Shrek's world. Instead, "Shrek 2" is a feature-length sitcom episode with a dull plot, cheap laughs and some fun moments. Shrek and Fiona visiting Fiona's parents sounded like a good idea, but it ultimately sinks low when they actually reach the home of the in-laws, Far Far Away.
It's basically a Hollywood parody with medieval riffs on several well-known products, and it's somewhat silly. Pretty soon, you are bombarded with constant pop culture jokes and gags that ultimately misfire. The film panders to middle school kids (mostly the 10-13 range) and it tries to be edgy and cool. I was 12 when it came out and I ate it up like candy. It doesn't hold up on repeat viewings, that's for sure. The plot is ultimately just there for the sake of all the jokes. It's a misfire.
There a couple funny moments, the movie as a whole is a money-grab. At one time, this was the highest-grossing animated film of all-time. DreamWorks basically thought they could repeat the formula for their other films, seen in "Shark Tale" and "Bee Movie", but people couldn't be fooled that easily.
"Shrek 2" isn't terrible, it's just an unsatisfying sequel that did it's job: Entertaining 10-13 year olds that usually avoid going to see animated movies and people think animation is kid's thing for comedies. It even pales alongside the earlier hand-drawn efforts from DreamWorks. The formula continues today, will DreamWorks ever break free from it? I guess this movie was only great in 2004.
A 6.9 out of 10.