Like its 2001 predecessor, “Shrek 2” leaps straight into an amiably twisted fairy tale world. Second time around things are taken even further, at times bordering on the risqué - the moment Pinocchio is revealed to be wearing women's underwear being one example. Picking up right after the honeymoon of Shrek and Princess Fiona, royal messengers summon the two to Fiona’s homeland; the land of Far Far Away, for a weekend with the folks. Little do they know a resentful father, a scheming Fairy Godmother and a metrosexual Prince Charming all stand in their way, preventing the two from living happily ever after.
Again as the original “Shrek” was made, filmmakers; led again by Andrew Adamson, have allowed anything in, however silly and nonsensical. There are jokey nods to past movies like: “Mission Impossible”; “King Kong” and “Lord of the rings”. Plenty of topical references crop up (Justin Timberlake, Starbucks and Gap); along with some outdated ones (the American style car chase is not only untimely but misplaced in a kid's film). A huge amount of the background scenery also based from obvious sources, such as: the Far Far Away sign, a noticeable creation from Hollywood’s own world famous sign. It’s these references in the film that really does make it so exhilarating and appeal to every audience.
Similarly with every other part of this breathtaking animation hit, the soundtrack that accompanies the careful creation and editing of the film has been made sure by filmmakers, to produce the best result possible. As in the first film, an inventive pop-rock soundtrack smoothes over the dull patches - any film that puts Tom Waits's "Little Drop of Poison" into the mouth of a piano playing Captain Hook has more on its mind than product placement. All throughout this non-stop adventure, soundtracks from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s are heard, making sure every aspect is at its full. Classics from Bonnie Tyler, The Buzzocks and Eels are all included, pushing this fairytale beyond any in history.
The original “Shrek” contained many jokes and references that flew over the heads of most viewers under 18 – an attribute common to animated movies advertised as fit for the entire family. “Shrek 2” takes the adult humour a step further with more frequent winks and nods at other well-known movies and celebrities. Kids will laugh and enjoy the good-natured humour on a surface level, while adults can get quite a few good chuckles from the humour intended for mature filmgoers. Sure there are still the requisite burp and fart jokes, but there’s also a lot of charm and wit in this family friendly film.
