(Review originally written at 8 November 2004)
The movie tries too hard to be more funnier and more clever than the first "Shrek". In many ways the humor is successful but then again on the other hand, the movie also fails on many fronts.
First of all, I liked the first "Shrek" movie, even though I never understood why that movie was loved and praised by so many. I found it a bit overrated you may say. "Shrek 2" is also a overpraised and overrated movie in my book but that doesn't mean it's a bad movie of course!
Main reason why I didn't liked this movie that much is the story. At least the first movie had a more clever story, "Shrek 2" just has a simple and less funny story. The movie also lacks a good villain, Fairy Godmother just ain't no Lord Farquaad. And like Donkey already said: "The position of annoying talking animal has been filled", so Puss In Boots voiced by Antonio Banderas totally felt like a needless character, no matter how nice and cool he was. I'm also not very happy what they did with some of the best and most fun characters from the first "Shrek" movie. They gave the characters Pinocchio, Three Pigs, Gingerbread Man and the Three Mice a bigger role, a bit too big for my taste. They should stay talking background characters and not some kind of semi-main characters. I also found the music to be a bit of a disappointment, not only the songs but also the original soundtrack by Harry Gregson-Williams, the first "Shrek" movie had a very cool and excellent soundtrack, something this movie is really missing (was he in a hurry or something?).
The animations are an improvement though, especially the way the characters walk and some of the humor is still hilarious even though it feels a bit forced at times.
Not as good as I wanted it to be, still looking forward to Shrek 3 & 4 though!
7/10
Watch trailer
No comments: