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Cinema
Shrek
Let's run briefly through the talented cast who provide the voices for Dreamworks Studio's latest animated feature, Shrek.
  • Mike Myers, a short little guy, plays a big green ogre.
  • John Lithgow, a great big tall guy, plays a short little nasty guy.
  • Cameron Diaz plays a tough princess.
  • Eddie Murphy plays, as usual, a talking ass.
The title character Shrek, voiced by Mike Myers, is the aforementioned big green ogre who lives alone in his swamp until it's overrun by fairy tale creatures who have been moved there as part of a 'relocation program'. In order to get some peace and quiet he heads off, followed by a chattering donkey (Murphy) to find the man responsible, Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Farquaad sends him off on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona (Diaz) from a fire breathing dragon and the film moves from there.

While this may all sound pretty much like a standard fairy tale, Shrek comes with such a wicked sense of irreverence that the whole genre ends up being turned on its head, nah - make that dropped on its head.

You've got action a-plenty, laughs a-load and references a-rumbling (okay - that attempt at alliteration failed miserably). The whole package is just down-right good fun for the whole family. And I really do mean the whole family. Parents who have been dragged along with a plethora of kids in tow will laugh at different parts to the kids (and then get to laugh at the kids jokes too). Other non-parent grown ups will go just for the sly wit and subtle (and not so subtle) swipes at Disney.

And I know I made a joke about Eddie Murphy at the start of the review but he is probably the funniest thing about the film. I defy anyone to sit through Shrek and not laugh at that talking donkey. Go on - I dare you!

So go see it because it'll sure beat sitting through Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

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