Kidnap your nephew, and give yourself a treat
SHREK
Cert U
Dreamworks
Ugly green ogres, a talking donkey, a vertically-challenged bad guy and a fire-breathing dragon. No, it's not the editorial staff of EN. They're just some of the colourful characters that show up in Shrek, the new animated feature from Dreamworks.
Shrek is a swamp-dwelling loner of an ogre, whose peaceful lagoon is invaded by a host of fairytale characters when the pocket-sized megalomaniac Lord Farquaard banishes them from his kingdom. To get these annoying Disney creatures out of his swamp, Shrek cuts a deal with evil Farquaard and sets off to rescue Princess Fiona from the dragon's lair.
Of course, the plot is just there to hang gags on. And the gags come thick, fast and crude, with Eddie Murphy as a talking donkey stealing the show. It's like a Disney cartoon but with more bite, added goo and bodily function jokes galore (well, what's wrong with a good belch every now and then?). Unfortunately they get just a tad too crude at times.
So, is Shrek just a fun fairy-tale film, or is there something more lurking under the computer-generated surface? Well, yes. At the heart of the tale is love, just where you'd expect to find it in any self-respcting animated blockbuster.
But it's not just the mushy, romantic, cartoony love that we find here, but a deep-seated need to be loved. You see, most of the characters are outsiders: Shrek is an ugly ogre that no human dares to go near. Lord Farquaard wants the adoration of his subjects, but feels inadequate due to his pint-sized frame. The donkey jabbers on so much that no one can bear him. Even the beautiful princess just wants a handsome prince to come, but fears her deep dark secret will drive any man away.
In the middle of all the slapstick humour and breakneck action, there are a bunch of vulnerable characters who desperately want to be loved. Just like the rest of us. And like many people, they feel they will find true happiness by falling in love.
So, despite all the jibes at Disney, Shrek eventually goes flat out for a big, lovely, mushy Disneyesque ending. And don't we just love it!
Martin Cole
