Goofy Fun

Rating: 8/10 (2 June 2001)

"Shrek" is a goofy movie. In this case, of course, goofy is exactly what they were aiming for (as opposed to something like oh, say, "Pearl Harbor" where the goofiness is completely unintentional). It's clever, it's entertaining, and there's always something interesting to look at on the screen.
The voice-over work from Mike Myers, John Lithgow and most especially Eddie Murphy is fantastic - it seems that they really enjoyed their work on this movie. Cameron Diaz does fine work, as well, though not as noticable since, like most fairy-tale princesses, she's not really given too much to do.
It's an interesting story, because it both sticks like glue to fairy tale conventions, and turns the fairy tale genre on its ear; sort of like Sondheim's "Into the Woods", only more fun.