Shrek (2001)

Directors:

Andrew Adamson
Vicky Jenson

Writers:

William Steig (book)
Ted Elliott (written by) ...

Release Date:

18 May 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

The greatest fairy tale never told.

Plot:

An ogre, in order to regain his swamp, travels along with an annoying donkey in order to bring a princess to a scheming lord, wishing himself King.

Plot Keywords:

Shrek | Lord | Ogre | Donkey | Fairy Tale

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 29 wins & 44 nominations

Cast

Mike Myers	...	Shrek (voice)
Eddie Murphy	...	Donkey (voice)
Cameron Diaz	...	Princess Fiona (voice)
John Lithgow	...	Lord Farquaad (voice)
Vincent Cassel	...	Monsieur Hood (voice)
Peter Dennis	...	Ogre Hunter (voice)
Clive Pearse	...	Ogre Hunter (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Captain of Guards (voice)
Bobby Block	...	Baby Bear (voice)
Chris Miller	...	Geppetto / Magic Mirror (voice)
Cody Cameron	...	Pinocchio / Three Pigs (voice)
Kathleen Freeman	...	Old Woman (voice)
Michael Galasso	...	Peter Pan (voice)
Christopher Knights	...	Blind Mouse / Thelonious (voice)
Simon J. Smith	...	Blind Mouse (voice)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and some crude humor.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U (re-rating) | Portugal:M/4 | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | South Africa:A (theatrical rating) | South Africa:PG (DVD rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Chile:TE | Finland:K-7 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:G | Netherlands:MG6 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:G | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:PG | Greece:K | Norway:7 | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (British Columbia/Manitoba/Quebec)

Company:

DreamWorks Animation

Trivia:

Although he's supposed to a hooved animal, Donkey's movements are instead based on those of a dog, except in the chase scene early in the film, during which Donkey's movements are based on those of a rabbit.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Shrek is cooking weedrats over the fire, Fiona is already eating her weedrat. Shrek then sits down next to Fiona to eat. If you look at Fiona's weedrat on the stick, she hasn't taken a single bite out of it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Shrek is reading a book in the outside toilet]
Shrek: Once upon a time, there was a lovely princess. But she had an enchantment upon her of a fearful sort which could only be broken by love's first kiss. She was locked away in a castle guarded by a terrible fire-breathing dragon. Many brave knights had attempted to free her from this dreadful prison, but none prevailed. She waited in the dragon's keep, in the highest room of the tallest tower, for her true love, and true love's first kiss.
[tears out a page and laughs]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Blonde and Blonder (2007)

Soundtrack:

Welcome to Duloc

Wicked

Shrek is one hell of an animated ride, and right when you're certain you know where to expect the next gag it one ups you. If you need a reason to see Shrek, here is that reason: imagine Eddie Murphy as an annoying not to mention obnoxious talking donkey. Yeah. Eddie Murphy gives Robin Williams a serious run for his money in terms of greatest animated side kick. From there we get Mike Myers voicing a big green ogre, who plays off Eddie Murphy with perfect comedic timing like the two were meant to do this film together.

Shrek is merciless in its humor. Targeting everything from fairy tales to Disney films to narrative clichés to bad puns, sliding in its own commentary, all the while giving the typical fantasy story a few modern twists and turns to deliver a strangely original unoriginal story with original unoriginal characters . . . that doesn't make sense, but Shrek does, does it well, and doesn't care. And you never know where this humor is going to come from, either – either visual gag, musical nod, or spoken dialogue. All three provide their share of narrative and commentary to the concepts in Shrek.

I think the beauty of Shrek is it's taken the typical fairy tale (which all of us have heard), and it answers the silly 'what if . . .' and 'why don't they ever . . .' questions we tend to ask. But that's not the core of the story - the core of this story is the friendship between Shrek and Donkey, which works in a funny goofball, but touching and unique way. If the audience can buy into Shrek and Donkey's relationship to one another, then they can believe entire film (which more or less focuses on the adventure the two share together). True, Shrek has a love theme . . . but it's Donkey and Shrek who sustain the film through most of the picture.

As for Cameran Diaz and John Lithgow, while not on screen as much as our two heroes, still play an important role. I wouldn't want to downplay Lithgow and Diaz who do bring their respective characters to life, but Shrek is a tale about an enduring friendship with a romance story on the side.