Shrek

From ToyReview

Who's Shrek?

Shrek

Shrek is an animated film produced by DreamWorks SKG in the spring of 2001. Although the film has a number of characteristics targeted at young viewers, such as the appearance of the characters and the incorporation of fairy tale creatures, a great deal of the films content is suitable for adult viewers. This is due to the hilarious script, well thought out storyline and voices behind the characters. Shrek has become a popular brand in many countries; merchandise of the characters is sold everywhere including items such as action figures, cuddly toys, play sets, computer games and stationary etc. They have even teamed with other well-known brands to create exciting children's toys. A great example of this is the Shrek Root Canal Play Set that includes Play-Doh in the fun.

Film Storylines

The first film was launched in May 2001 and the storyline went like this: Shrek (Mike Myers) is a grumpy yet lovable ogre who lives alone in a dingy swamp deep in the forest. One day he returns home to find fairy tale creatures from all over the land at his swamp who have been summoned there by Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Shrek agrees to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from a dragon guarded tower and bring her to Lord Farquaad who wishes to marry her, but only if the fairy tale creatures are removed from his swamp. Donkey (Eddie Murphy) follows Shrek and attempts to become his best friend while travelling to the castle to rescue the Princess.

The story is a fairytale with a number of confusing and funny situations; Shrek and Donkey manage to rescue the Princess who then thinks Shrek is her Prince Charming and is angry at Lord Farquaad for not bothering to go himself! The fire-breathing Dragon who guarded the tower then fell in love with Donkey and becomes his girlfriend! Fiona reveals her secret curse that turns her into an ogre at night; the spell can only be broken by a kiss from her true love that in the end turns out to be Shrek!

A sequel (Shrek 2) was released in May 2004 and proved to be even more successful and popular than the first film. In this script we follow Shrek, Fiona and Donkey as they visit Fiona's parents in the land of Far Far Away. A number of hilarious events arise such as her parents King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lilian (Julie Andrews) coming to terms with the fact their princess is an ogre. Princess Fiona's nasty Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) visits the King and reminds him of their deal for the Princess to marry her son Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) in return for turning the King back into a human (he was a frog)! She desperately attempts to split Shrek and Fiona up by hiring Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) to kill Shrek but she doesn't succeed.

A third film (Shrek 3) is planned to launch in May 2007 involving a number of new amusing scripts, revisits from principle characters such as Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Puss in Boots and some new famous voices, Justin Timberlake being one!

Main Characters

Shrek - Begins as a grumpy ogre who wears simple white and brown clothes and brown boots. His baldhead is large and his face has a wide smile with long dimples, his nose is huge and he has trumpet shaped ears.

Fiona - Originally she had long red hair with a green velvet dress, pale skin and pretty facial features. As an ogre her face and body are the same but much larger and greener and obviously less human!

Donkey - A grey donkey with long pointy ears and a mane of black Afro style hair on his back. Donkey's facial expressions and mouth movements very much reflect those of Eddie Murphy.

Puss in Boots - A small ginger cat with tabby fur and a lighter belly. He wears black thigh high boots, a belt and has a black hat with a yellow/gold feather coming out the top. He holds a fencing sword and is best known for his first scene in Shrek 2 where he wins Shrek and Donkey over through his sad, eye-watering pose.

Shrek Links

• Official Shrek Site
• Shrek 2 Website