SHREK is great? Maybe in comparison...

Rating: Null/10 (15 June 2001)

I enjoyed SHREK, but not a lot. It had a couple of big laughs in it (the Gingerbread Man steals the show), but overall it wasn't very funny. Everyone says it slams Disney, but all I see is adherence to the same old formulas. Characters wallow in self-pity, discover their inner beauty and fall in love. It may be different in the details (it's crass, ugly, and aims more at the lowest common denominator of audience appeal... ie fart jokes), but overall, it's not that different. It's no LION KING or SECRET OF NIMH in terms of story, character, heart or artistry -- especially artistry. The production and art design for SHREK is hideous. There is no unified look for the film, no mastery of color scheme or layout. ANTZ had this same problem. SHREK looks clunky and, well, computer-animated. Everyone may praise PDI's efforts, but PIXAR can blow them out of the water any day. Just look at TOY STORY or BUG'S LIFE -- better character animation, more range of expression in the characters' faces, and above all -- better design at work, mastery of color. It's art to me. SHREK is just another movie hitting big because it happens to be the best of the litter at this point in time.