"The greatest fairy tale never told"

Rating: 9/10 (7 May 2012)

When I was a kid, Shrek used to be one of those films where I kept watching and watching. It never grew old and tiring, it never seemed to let up. It was the best movie ever back then, I was transfixed in a world where anything happens.. So years later (yesterday, to be exact) I watch it again. I wanted to get that feeling of pure nostalgia, understand the moral of the story, and most importantly understand those adult jokes! And with all this build-up, you must agree, Shrek still holds up.
What I loved best about Shrek was how it was a satirical view of fairy tales. Each setting, line, and situation mimicked some fairy tale of some sort. We have the clichés, but Shrek knows what they are and puts them in the shredder, creating the perfect piece of imagination. The plot wasn't spoiled, or rotten, it kept going and never let up. Now when I was a kid, I never understood any of the jokes, and you know back then all you were laughing at was the slapstick humor. Now, nowadays, the jokes were comedic gold! I'm surprised at how much adult jokes were hidden underneath, making this one of the riskiest animation films of all time. And that's a good thing. Shrek was sarcastically funny while Eddie Murphy's Donkey kept coming and going with fast-paced, witty lines that never let up. I enjoyed every piece of their dialog exchanges. So we have the good plot, the great jokes. What more could this film contain?! It contains one of the key things an animation needs: heart and soul. And Shrek has every bit of it. One sequence (with Hallelujah playing in the background) was one of the most heartbreaking sequences in animation history. But Shrek knows how to sort out the two. Shrek isn't a joke-filled mess, nor a heartbreaking sob-story, it's a perfect blend of them both, then some.
Shrek isn't the best animation film ever, but it sure is one of the best! Those who look down on animation as kid's escapism, think again. Shrek knows how to satisfy all sorts of ages, and does a perfect job of doing so. Shrek IS the greatest fairy tale never told.
9/10.