Run, run, run, as fast as you can...

Rating: 8/10 (4 June 2001)

Easily the most sophisticated general audience release since "Toy Story", "Shrek" provides a welcome relief to parents who have had to endure a seemingly endless stream of drudgery the likes of which are personified by films such as "The Road to El Dorado" and "Stuart Little". While the kids are treated to an ageless fairy tale (augmented with a 21st century touch of flatulence) and the old motto "Don't judge a book by its cover", the adults get solid sarcasm and parody. "Shrek" is certainly walking through the woods with his ogre tongue firmly in cheek.
It is also entertaining to watch Eddie Murphy quietly reestablishing a career that seemed to peak in the 1980's. Dr. Dolittles and Nutty Professors aside, his work in the "PJ's", "Bowfinger", and "Holy Man" show he is trying to mix the creative in with the studio money.