This donkey kicks ass (Shrek (DVD))

Member Name: x_elff_x

Product:	Shrek (DVD)
Date:	09/06/01 (508 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny, Subversive, Not Disney

Disadvantages: Late rallying of schmaltz, but it is quickly killed

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago in a far away land called Yewessay there was an artist. He didn't have any children so he made himself a son called Mickey. Mickey wasn't a real boy but everyone loved him so that was all right. Over the years Mickey grew and grew until he became, well, a bit of a monster really, at least as far as a couple of his 'carers' were concerned and they left him behind - this is their story.

If Antz was Woody Allen does Disney then Shrek is most certainly what would have happened if a young Mel Brookes would have had the chance. Gone is (most of) the schmaltz of Disney and the midlife crisis of Antz and in its place is a riproaring, vibrant melee of satire, bottom gags and pratfalls which offers something for all members of the family and, particularly, the grown ups.

The plot contains all of those Disney fairytale staples. A misfit (and in this case ugly) hero (Shrek - voiced by Mike Myers) with a wise ass (quite literally) sidekick (Donkey - Eddie Murphy) who go on a quest to rescue a beautiful princess from the evil clutches of a dragon because of a nasty lord of the land (Lord Farquad - John Lithgow).

So far, so Disney. But now imagine that every single one of these conventions is up for lampooning and sideswipes and you will start to get the feel for this movie. The evil lord is vertically challenged, Shrek has a serious hygiene problem, the princess has a bit of a personal problem and the dragon, well you'll find out when you go...

I don't want to spoil the gags for you, of which there are many. But I will share with you just a snippet of the opening moments. When we first meet Shrek he is in the loo and just about to wipe his copious green bottom on the pages of a fairytale book - do you see what you are about to let yourself in for?

The opening credits are glorious, fast-paced and great fun, in fact after 15 minutes my jaw was beginning to ache from smiling.
Although many of the Disney satire gags are aimed firmly at adults - for example a beautiful mickey take (pun intended) of Dumbo - the children next to me were falling about anyway at the scatalogically ribald splendour of it all.

The animation is nothing short of wonderful, because although the human characters never seem to look quite right in computer generated stuff, in a fairytale this doesn't matter. And nothing, I repeat NOTHING is sacred to these people.

Particular favourite moments of mine were those when any of the characters attempted to break into song - each time meeting with some form of disaster which I guarantee you won't see coming.

Amongst the films which I spotted gags being aimed at were, Pinochio, Dumbo, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and The Wizard of Oz. If you spot them, great, they are fun, but if you don't you will still get a great deal from this film. There are also a couple of 'very' adult gags which will, thankfully, zip over the heads of your young 'uns but have you rolling in the aisles - pay attention to Lord Farquad's bedtime request.

As far as the voices are concerned they are perfect and I was amazed to learn that none of the voice actors met during the making of the film as they knit together so seamlessly. If it is anyone's show though, it is certainly Murphy's as the ever-talkative Stubborn Donkey who refuses to let Shrek go off on his own, with the supremely slimey John Lithgow in a close second.

The script is pacey and perfectly suited to Murphy's quick-fire style of delivery. In fact Murphy is so very good that the film does tend to sag a little in the one or two scenes from which he is absent - most noticeably towards the end.

This was the only slight let down of the whole film - a, thankfully brief, ten-minute segment towards the finale where someone accidentally let the schmaltz out of the bag for a moment or two. It doesn't
last too long, but I could sense the attention of the two young ladies next to me was wandering and, to be honest, so was mine.

Shrek, however, rallies magnificently and subversively at the last with a galloping finale which will leave you gasping for breath so you can laugh some more.

Ditch the Disney. See Shrek.

--Popcorn--

If you want to see Shrek for nowt you can enter the Radio 1 preview draw at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/djs/movie_lounge_form. shtml

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