Review: 'Shrek 2' Twisted Fairy Tale Dream Come True

'Shrek 2' (PG)(out of four)

If you believed in "Shrek" -- arguably the best movie of 2001 -- then you'll be happy to know that its much-anticipated sequel "Shrek 2" is a twisted fairy tale dream come true. Once again backed by a phenomenal voice cast, smart writing and knock-out computer animation, the spirited follow-up is easily equal to, if not better at times, than its inspired predecessor. It's too bad movies like this are too few are far (far away) between.

"Shrek 2" finds Shrek and his newly turned ogre companion Princess Fiona (Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, in yet another pair of brilliantly understated vocal performances) as a newly married couple adjusting to married life in the swamp. But there's one issue yet to be resolved that's already causing them some marital woes: meeting the in-laws, King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews).

Assuming that Fiona has received her true love's first kiss and been cured of her spell, the royal couple has invited their daughter and her new "prince" to their castle in the swank city of Far Far Away (in a setting that playfully resembles Beverly Hills). But Shrek wants nothing of it: he's convinced the king, queen and everybody else for that matter, won't accept them for their true colors, which of course, is green. And green people seem to attract pitchforks rather easily.

But thanks to some coaxing from their trusty and lovably obnoxious friend Donkey (Eddie Murphy) the threesome embarks on their journey (minus Donkey's companion, Dragon -- that couple's having trouble, too) to meet the parents of the bride.

However, trouble awaits them: The Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) and her son Prince Charming (Rupert Everett), already stinging over the prince not getting his chance to save Fiona, become more vexed when they see the ogre couple. That prompts the devious duo to launch a plan that forces Harold -- already less than thrilled with the looks of his new son-in-law -- to get Fiona to fall for Charming. To do so, he hires a formidable swordsman, er, swordscat, in Puss-in-Boots (Antonio Banderas) to take Shrek out.

The great thing about "Shrek 2" is the filmmakers didn't try to completely rewrite the storybook for the sake of making itself different from the first movie. That's not to say the "Shrek 2" isn't original. While it employs the same sharp storytelling sensibilities, it easily finds more inspiration in the time-honored fairy tales that we all know and love (as well as a spate of hit movies and pop culture icons) and skewers them all with its own distinctive brand of wicked wit. Like the first movie, it's an instant classic.

Directors Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon (along with writers J. David Stern, Joe Stillman, David N. Weiss) are keenly aware of who their audience is and deliver in rapid-fire succession jokes and in-jokes that will make its kid and adult viewers roar with delight (like the first movie, parents shouldn't worry -- anything suggestive will fly right over your kids' heads).

At the forefront of the laughter again is Murphy, who once again delivers another gut-busting mixture of zingers and spontaneous singing performances as Donkey.

But Banderas nearly steals the show as the suave and delightfully funny Puss-in-Boots. Granted, both he and Murphy can thank some great writers -- but if it weren't for their inherent comic sensibilities (We've come to expect it from Myers, Diaz and Murphy -- but Banderas, being so funny? Who knew?), the characters wouldn't be nearly as funny. Better yet, the laughs don't end the main characters. The filmmakers smartly find a way to work the likes of Pinocchio, the Three Pigs, Big Bad Wolf and Gingerbread Man back into the fold, too.

Cleese effectively delivers his share of laughs, too, but in a much more subtle way and it's also a delight to hear Andrews stately voice as the lovably accepting queen. Everett and Saunders (who shows she has some serious pipes by belting out a few tunes) are perfect additions to the voice cast as Charming and the Fairy Godmother.

From a technical standpoint, the film nails it on all levels. While the computer animation was brilliant in the first film, the filmmakers have made even greater strides with "Shrek 2." The characters movements are more fluid and in fact, the flesh of its human characters looks real at times.

Which brings us to the most important point about "Shrek 2": like the first film, it has the amazingly ability to engage you emotionally and suspend your disbelief in a way that few live-action movies can, all without sacrificing the content for cool visuals. And better yet, it's not all about laughs. Like the first "Shrek," the sequel employs strong, humbling messages that speaks to both adults andkids.

In the end, "Shrek 2" is easily the most entertaining movie of the year so far (if not the best movie) and it leaves you begging for more -- and you'll get it if stick around for the end credits for a welcome surprise.

Now let's just hope Dreamworks invests some of the green they make from this to take us far farther away. It was three years from the last journey until now -- and "Shrek 3" can't come soon enough.