Then Sherk interrupts, and this is where the audience realises that the film is a parody.
“Like that’s ever going to happen”
The first section I am going to study is when Donkey and Sherk are crossing over a long unstable rickety bridge over hot boiling laver to the castle and they rescue the princess. The second section I chose to study is where the prince was just about to marry Princess Fiona but then Shrek stops the wedding and Fiona and sherk end up confessing their love for each other. I chose these sections because the first section contains a lot of suspense and tension and has a hilarious mismatch of Donkey and the Dragon. I also love the lead up to happy conclusions and the second section contains this.
Compared to an original conventional cartoon ‘Shrek’ is very different and creates a brand new fantasy world, which draws the interest of a wide range of audiences. The sections contain lots of visual animation. In the first section, there is glowing fiery molten lava and fire reflecting red on the castle and surroundings. The castle is very dark and has smoke swirling around the castle giving it a spooky realistic affect. The second section contains realistic clouds, the quick pushing of guards and the transformation of the colourful smoke with the rising of Princess Fiona. There is also a lot of close ups and high shots.
The makers of the film have included different views that would capture a wider range of audiences.
“Sure it’s big enough but look at the location.”
Donkey looks at Sherk weirdly because he does not get Shrek’s joke. This is just a simple example, some people would get the joke, and others would not. Here are two different views again.
“Well I have to save my ass”
Shrek meant Donkey when he said ‘ass’. However, the older range of audience would be able to understand this but the younger range most properly would not, therefore finding it funny. There is another example.
“So where is the fire-breathing pain-in-the-neck anyway?”
“Inside, waiting for us to rescue her.”
“I was talking about the dragon, Shrek”
There is also sarcasm, which captures a range of audience.
“I’m just a little uncomfortable about being on a rickety bridge over a boiling lake of laver.”
This also shows Donkey’s weakness and that he is insecure, this would appeal mainly to the people that are scared at this point like the children. Donkey also shows his insecurity through all the ‘gasping’ and ‘whimpering’ especially when he is faced with the Dragon.
“Oh, God I can’t do this just let me off, please!
Don’t do that.”
“Oh I’m sorry. Do what? Do this. Do it. Ok.”
This is where Shrek shakes the bridge. Shrek is brave and appeals to mainly the adults in the audience, as they are the most likely ones not to be scared.
In the first section, there is a pastiche where Shrek says.
“That’ll do donkey. That’ll do.”
This comes from the film Babe.
“You’re a girl dragon”
This is where ‘Shrek’ again differs from and takes fun of a fairy tale. This would capture mainly the adult’s interest.
“This be-ith our first meeting. Should it not be a wonderful, romantic moment?”
In the second section, Donkey is trying to get Shrek to do things right, just like in a fairy tale by getting him to go into the church and objecting at the right moment.
“Then you got to, got to try a little tenderness.”
“The chicks love that romantic crap”
This phrase appeals to teenagers more as it using slag.
“Excuse me, could we just skip ahead to the I do’s?”
Now because Fiona said this Shrek cannot go in at the right time, so he barges in. When Fiona reveals that she is an ogre, Lord Farquaad says comment that again expresses different views of appeal to a wider audience.
“Ugh! It’s disgusting!”
Then Donkey and the dragon come. This phase is a type of comedy and would appeal to mainly audiences of the older range.
“I’m a donkey on the edge”
“I’ve got a dragon and I’m not afraid to use it.”
This phase is taken from, “I’ve got a gun, and I’m not afraid to use it”.
“I – I love you”
“I’m surpose to be beautiful.”
“But you are beautiful.”
This is appealing to the range of audience that like romance. In addition, people did not expect Princess Fiona to stay an ogre so the film ‘Shrek’ had a twist, and again appealing to a range of audience.
In the first section, there is a mismatch of Donkey and the dragon. At first Donkey does not like the dragon falling in love with him.
“That is unwanted physical contact.”
Then his characterisation towards her changed, as they team up together to save Princess Fiona and Shrek. Shrek characterisation towards Donkey was unfriendly at first but this changes they become great friends. At the beginning to the play, shrek liked being on his own a lot but with the help of Donkey, Shrek started to like others and as a result, he got married.
“I – I love you.”
When Shrek said this, his voice softens, symbolizing that he is changed.
In conclusion, I think Shrek appeals to a wide range of audiences because in the way, the film contains different types of comedy and because of the different ways, people can interpret things in the film.
