Movie review of Shrek 2, Shrek 2 DVD review

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Buy your copy from Amazon.com Shrek 2 (2004) Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Jennifer Saunders
Director: Andrew Adamson, Kelly Ashbury and Conrad Vernon
Rating: PG
Category: Comedy

The story begins right where it left off, with Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) completely distressed when he discovers that his bride-to-be, Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), has run off on her honeymoon with the big, green ogre, Shrek (Mike Myers). When the couple returns to their lovely abode in the swamp, they are invited to the kingdom of Far, Far Away for a wedding celebration by Fiona’s parents, the king and queen (John Cleese and Julie Andrews, respectively). When Prince Charming informs his mother, the Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders), about the horrible turn of events, she quickly devises a plan that will trick Fiona into falling for the Prince before Shrek and his band of misfits can stop her.

While often funny enough to make you smile, “Shrek 2” never induces any laughter, nor does it deliver an engaging story to keep the audience from dozing off. The plot is far too elementary and the returning actors don’t seem to exhibit the same enthusiasm they had the first time around. Leave it to Antonio Banderas to save the day once again, whose performances in the “Spy Kids” films have since made him the go-to guy of family entertainment. As the fencing feline Puss in Boots, Banderas’ sword-fighting kitten is a refreshing addition to the cast, complete with his unique blend of command and comic sophistication, plus that killer accent.

Sharing the same style and humor as the original, “Shrek 2” is a clever sampling of comedic drollery wrapped up in a plot too plain to escape. Although it’s evident that “Shrek 2” is essentially geared towards the pre-teen crowd (hence its PG-13 rating), the film ultimately fails by insulting its older audience with cardboard characters and a near absence of adult humor.

~Jason Zingale