Shrek two, along with it's other sequels, is probably one of the few series of films where the sequels are just as good as the original in my opinion.

If you have read any of my previous reviews (eg, 'Fairytale subversion at it's best,' 'Twas brillig etc' and 'That's my Dad!') you'll know that i'm mad about fairy tale subversions, and that 'Shrek' is used as a term of endearment in the Hoggle household.

So following my love of fairy tale subversion i have to say this is one if the more humorous fairy tale subversions i've seen of the Fairy God Mother (Jennifer Saunders) and Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) along with the amazingly cast Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) who also has his own film and there's rumour of another coming out in the next year or so. Along with an interesting twist on the Frog Prince.

We also gain more depth into the brief fairytale subversions we encountered in the first film- in particular The Gingerbread Man and the Muffin man prove rather useful toward the end of the film, there's a rather funny underwear scene when it comes to Pinnochio, the Three Little Pigs feature- i still can't get over the fact that they have German accents, it's very well done. We also see glimpses of The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and the Magic Mirror from Snow White still makes an appearance and plays a rather good role as a television set.

So, after returning from their honeymoon Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) return to find Donkey (Eddie Murphy) has been house-sitting for them, but before Shrek can get annoyed with Donkey (Which is quite a feat) they find a royal messenger at their door with a letter from Fiona's parents (Julie Andrews and John Cleese) asking for her to come visit now she's been rescued from her tower. The film then evolves into a hilarious take on how not to deal with meeting the other half's parents.

Meanwhile, Prince Charming has been battling blistering deserts and cold places to climb to the highest room in the tallest tower to rescue the princes, only to find a 'gender confused' wolf where Fiona should be. Needless to say he's not best pleased. Nor is the Fairy Godmother who specifically set it up so Fiona's 'happily ever after' was to be found with Charming.

While all this is going on, Shrek begins to feel he's not good enough for Fiona after gaining an insight into her life before he met her. So he sets out to find a way to make Fiona happy and happens to find it in the Fairy Godmother's factory (yes, she has a factory). And so the story continues.

Along with this, the sound track to Shrek 2 is just as good as the first film's sound track, including 'Accidentally in love' performed by Counting Crows, 'Funky Town' performed by Lipps Inc and David Bowie's 'Changes.' Not to mention other well known artists like Tom Waits and Nick Cave (i have a friend who's obsessed with these two- when i told her they had songs in this film she practically stole my copy of this film off me.) but the highlight of the soundtrack for me has to be hearing Jennifer Saunders sing 'Holding out for a Hero.'

All in all this is an absolutely brilliant series of films that has to be watched.