"Shrek" -- Big on Magic, Short on Story by Homer Yen (c) 2001
Once upon a time, there existed a fierce rivalry between two powerful animation production companies. One was called Pixar, owned by a juggernaut known as Disney whose name has become synonymous with great animation and storytelling. The other was a feisty little startup company known as Pacific Data Images, headed by Dreamworks.
Their battle began a few years ago when Pixar released "A Bug's Life" and then Dreamworks/PDI released soon afterwards the similarly themed "ANTZ." Both companies showed that they were capable of ushering a new era of animation technology and that the public could look forward to further sparring in the form of more ambitious releases. And now with "Shrek", Dreamworks/PDI has taken their rivalry to the next level with a film that not only showcases incredible animation but also pokes fun at the wonderful world of Disney.
"Shrek" is a lively and disarmingly silly tale of a misanthropic ogre (voiced by the gleeful Mike Myers with a Scottish brogue). He values his solitude, but becomes especially distressed when fairy tale creatures wind up in his private little swamp. The creatures explain that the mean Lord Farquaad (voiced by the deliciously malevolent sounding John Lithgow) has exiled them there. Our green hero, joined by a wise-cracking donkey named Donkey (Eddie Murphy), leaves to seek out the evil nobleman in order to claim back their land.
The story itself never approaches the level of awe that we have for the animation, which incorporates an added level of detail, light, and texture that has not been seen before. The verdancy of the forest and the meadows that sway in the wind are truly incredible. Donkey looks amazingly lifelike with his furry exterior and ears that reposition itself based on his emotions. Extended sequences such as a song and dance number with Robin Hood and his very Merry Men and an escape from a dragon's keep is nothing less than impressive.
There's plenty here to entertain kids of all ages. Young ones will like the colorful characters while older ones will be reminded of their precious youth when they see the likes of the Gingerbread Man (who proclaims "Eat Me" when being threatened by Farquaad), the Seven Dwarves, the Three Blind Mice, and dozens of others. Meanwhile, there are lots of humorous moments derived from references to pop culture (with spoofs of The Dating Game, The Matrix, and the WWF), but it also takes great pleasure in teasing the Disney company. For instance, Farquaad's city looks very much like the Magic Kingdom with its parking lots, turnstiles, and musical information kiosks.
"Shrek," unfortunately, never musters enough strength to tell an involved story. While our lovable oaf laments that he actually has a good heart and is just misunderstood, develops affection for the rescued Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz), and learns a lesson about friendship and forgiveness, the ideas seemed hollow.
"Shrek" seems more interested in dazzling us with its animation and funny moments. We are dazzled and we laugh, but the cleverest moments occurred outside the context of the plot. More noteworthy animated films such as "Toy Story", "Chicken Run", and Beauty and the Beast easily outmatched this film's storytelling muscle. Regardless, this is a nice offering that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression in your mind.
Grade: B
S: 0 out of 3 L: 0 out of 3 V: 1 out of 3
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