Successful Corruption

Rating: 1/10 (11 November 2008)

It seems like producers of Shrek doubted the strength of their storyline by itself. What else could explain the presence of the famous actors as voice performers? It was a mask for the weak scenario."Mike Myers obviously wanted to share his Austin Powers-style comedy with the younger generation, adding some adult innuendo to keep the parents titillated,"So... that must be Lord Farquaad's castle Do ya think maybe he's compensating for something?" Again  the film's animation, while technically superior, is cold and unappealing. There is no gain out of the voice performers, especially Eddie Murphy in his "stock" loudmouth idiot role. Cameron Diaz doesn't make any impression at all. An enormous cast of animated creatures, fantasy landscape and celebrity voice performers do not compensate for the lack of soul in this anti-Disney hint from a disgruntled ex-employee.
The first half-hour I was waiting for the funny part, and the rest of the film I was waiting for its end. In a movie that is supposed to have a message of tolerance (although in a satirical way), there are too many familiar stereotypes and cruel jokes spread around. I'm not surprised that wide audiences enjoyed Shrek. It is the same drivel that passes for comedy in many films these days, notably, there's something about Mary, American Pie, Dumb and Dumber, the Ace Ventura movies, and anything from Mike Myers. The lowest form of comedy is juvenile bathroom humor, and it is meant to appeal to the whiny adolescent in all of us. I think it is a shame that studios are producing films that demand the viewer be brain-dead.
Disney has its faults  now more than ever  and it deserves to be ridiculed, but it has to be criticized by something more intelligent than this. After all, Shrek is the misfit who dreams of being understood, Eddie Murphy is a Donkey who serves as a sidekick on hand to chip in, Cameron Diaz is a Princess who teaches us that beauty is only skin deep, and nothing is more Disney than that.