Better than the First

Rating: 9/10 (2 June 2007)

The first Shrek film was well-liked by most because it satyred fairy tales in a fun way, while keeping a good story and good special effects. The characters were fresh and original, and the voice-acting was top-notch. Still, the film had some serious kinks and became almost bland. The sequel learns from the mistakes of the first films and eliminates them while going a step further than the first film.
In "Shrek 2", we find Shrek and Fiona living happily in the swamp while enjoying the relaxing life of being married, apart from the constant badgering of Donkey, who is all the more hilarious in this second installment. Pretty soon, Shrek and Fiona are requested to go off and visit Fiona's parents in the "Land of Far, Far, Away". The set-up is priceless. We get similar spoofing of fairy tales all throughout the film, including stabs at Prince Charming, the "Fairy god-mother", the little mermaid (briefly), the frog prince, and thousands of others. The plot is much more well-thought out and original this time, and the story pokes fun at modern society and film, as well as the same kind of bits from the original. For instance, Far Far Way is the home of its very own News Team, some of the assistants of the Fairy Godmother complain about lack of insurance, and Starbucks locations are everywhere! These are only some of the many funny satirical bits in this film.
What really makes "Shrek 2" the best in the series however, is that it balances all of its parts perfectly. The soundtrack is superb, the modern satirical bits are hilarious, the characters are all unique in their own way, and the plot is decent at worst, but in the hands of the wrong person this could have all meant nothing. It does. The film is a gem, better even for teens than for children. It is a flawless satire with fantastic animation and voice acting.