Shrek 2

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This article is about the featured computer-animated film. For the video game based on the film, see Shrek 2 (video game).
Shrek 2
Shrek 2 poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Andrew Adamson
Kelly Asbury
Conrad Vernon
Produced by Aron Warner
John H. Williams
David Lipman
Screenplay by Andrew Adamson
Joe Stillman
J. David Stem
David N. Weiss
Story by Andrew Adamson
William Steig
Based on Characters created 
by William Steig
Narrated by Rupert Everett
Starring Mike Myers
Eddie Murphy
Cameron Diaz
Antonio Banderas
Julie Andrews
John Cleese
Rupert Everett
Jennifer Saunders
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams
Editing by Michael Andrews
Sim Evan-Jones
Studio DreamWorks Animation
Pacific Data Images
Distributed by DreamWorks Pictures
Release date(s)
  • May 15, 2004 (2004-05-15) (Cannes)
  • May 19, 2004 (2004-05-19) (United States)
Running time 92 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $150 million
Box office $919,838,758[1]

Shrek 2 is a 2004 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon. It is the second installment in the Shrek series, the sequel to 2001's Shrek, and features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Rupert Everett and Jennifer Saunders.

Like its predecessor, Shrek 2 received positive reviews. Shrek 2 scored the second-largest three-day opening weekend in US history at the time of release,[2] as well as the largest opening for an animated film until May 18, 2007, when it was eclipsed by its sequel Shrek the Third.[3] As of 2011, it is the inflation-adjusted 31st highest-grossing film of all time in the US.[4] It went on to be the highest-grossing film of 2004.[5] The associated soundtrack reached the top ten of the Billboard 200. It is also the seventh highest ticket selling animated film of all time.[6] It is DreamWorks's most successful film to date and was also the highest-grossing fully animated film of all time worldwide[7] for six years until Toy Story 3 surpassed it in 2010, along with the re-releases of The Lion King in late 2011 and Finding Nemo in 2012, making it the 4th highest grossing animated film of all time.

Contents

Plot [edit]

After Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) and Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz) come back from their honeymoon, they find an invitation to a royal ball with Fiona's parents to celebrate their marriage, an event in which Shrek is reluctant to participate. Donkey appears, wanting to move in with Shrek and Fiona after a falling-out with Dragon, much to the consternation of Shrek. Fiona, Shrek and Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) travel to the kingdom of Far Far Away and meet Fiona's parents, King Harold and Queen Lillian (voiced by John Cleese and Julie Andrews), who are surprised by Fiona's choice of husband and her new appearance. Harold becomes repulsed and at a shared meal, he and Shrek get into a heated argument over how Shrek and Fiona will raise their family. Fiona, disgusted at Shrek's and her father's behavior, locks herself in her room that evening, where she meets her Fairy Godmother (voiced by Jennifer Saunders), who is also surprised at Fiona's new looks. Shrek worries that he has lost his true love, particularly after finding the diary from her teenhood and reading that she was once infatuated with Prince Charming (voiced by Rupert Everett). King Harold is accosted by the Fairy Godmother and Charming, her son. He had arranged with the Fairy Godmother that her son would overcome many obstacles in order to rescue Fiona and break the spell, but instead, finds the Big Bad Wolf using the tallest tower as a hangout. They reprimand Harold for breaking an old promise that Charming would be able to marry Fiona and demand that he find a way to get rid of Shrek. Harold apologizes, saying that Charming never made it in time. After Shrek reads Fiona's diary and pages containing the single phrase "Mrs. Fiona Charming", Harold arranges for Shrek and Donkey to join him on a fictitious hunting trip, which really is a trap to lure the two into the hands of an assassin, Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas).

When Fiona realizes that Shrek left, she asks her father for help, but he replies that he always wanted the best for her and that she should think about what is the best for her, too. Puss is unable to defeat Shrek and reveals that he was paid by Harold. He asks to tag along as a way to make amends. Shrek decides to go to the Fairy Godmother for help. However, the Fairy Godmother states that ogres do not live "happily ever after" and refuses to assist. Nonetheless, the three sneak into the Fairy Godmother's potion factory and steal a "Happily Ever After" potion that Shrek believes will restore Fiona's love for him. Shrek and Donkey both drink the potion, which doesn't appear to work, but when it starts to rain, they leave, and in doing so they fail to notice that a mushroom that Shrek previously sneezed potion on changes into a beautiful rose. They wait out the storm in a barn and, while there, Shrek and Donkey become dizzy and fall over and into a deep sleep. When they awake, they discover the potion has taken effect: Shrek is now a handsome human, while Donkey has turned into a stallion. In order to make the change permanent, Shrek must kiss Fiona by midnight. Shrek, Donkey, and Puss return to the castle to discover that the potion has also transformed Fiona back into her former, human self from the first movie. However, the Fairy Godmother, having learned of the potion's theft, sends Charming to the castle, where he poses as Shrek to win Fiona's love. Although Harold recognizes Charming for who he really is, he doesn't speak up. Shrek, heartbroken, lets Fiona go, believing she will be happier with Charming.

A few hours later, Shrek hears that Fiona hasn't fallen for Charming, and that Harold has been given a love potion to put in Fiona's tea, which will cause her to fall in love with the first person she kisses. Harold, knowing that it is madness, refuses, but the Fairy Godmother threatens to take away his 'Happily Ever After', if he does not fulfill her wish. The trio overhear the exchange, and after hearing that Charming is the Fairy Godmother's son, are noticed by the Fairy Godmother, who has them arrested by the royal guards and thrown into a dungeon. When the royal ball begins, several of Shrek's friends band together to free the trio (having seen their arrest via the Magic Mirror) and create a gigantic gingerbread man (whose name is Mongo), which breaks through the castle's defences so Shrek can stop the kiss, Mongo falls into the moat, losing his arms as a result. When Shrek arrives, Charming forcibly kisses Fiona, believing the potion has taken effect, Fiona knocks him out temporarily with a headbutt. When the Fairy Godmother confronts Harold, he reveals that he gave her the wrong tea, having realized her love for Shrek. The Fairy Godmother tries to kill Shrek, Harold commits self-sacrifice to save Shrek, his armour reflects and disintegrates the Fairy Godmother into a cloud of bubbles; it also returns Harold to his true form, that of the Frog Prince. Harold apologizes to Shrek and Fiona for everything he has done, and now realizes what is best for Fiona, giving them his blessing. Shrek forgives him, and Lillian tells Harold that she still loves him no matter what. When it is midnight, Shrek tells Fiona that if they kiss now, then their change will be permanent. But Fiona says that she wants more than any other princess wants to live happily ever after with the ogre she married. The clock chimes as the potion's effects wear off, with Donkey changing back as well, much to his chagrin. He cheers up as Shrek reassures him he still is a noble steed to him, Puss and Donkey sing as the royal ball resumes celebrating the true loved newlyweds.

In a post-credits scene, Donkey complains to Puss about missing Dragon, and rejects an invitation by Puss' to a night-cap at the "Kit-Kat Club." Suddenly, Dragon flies in, along with six "Dronkeys" that Donkey happily embraces as his "mutant babies." Donkey and Dragon reconcile. Having a larger family, Donkey realizes, "I've gotta get a job!"

Cultural references [edit]

Like its predecessor, Shrek 2 also acts as somewhat of a parody film, targeting adapted children's fantasies (mainly those adapted by Disney); and like other DreamWorks animated films, also features references to American popular culture:

  • The character design of the mermaid that washes up on Shrek in the beginning of the movie bears heavy reference to Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid.[8]
  • Elements and landmarks that make up the Kingdom of Far Far Away bear reference to respective elements and landmarks of Southern California, particularly those of the Los Angeles area. For example, the kingdom features a "Far Far Away" sign obviously modeled after the famous Hollywood Sign; and the restaurant King Harold, Fairy Godmother and Charming "drive thru" is a reference to the Southern California restaurant chain, Bob's Big Boy.[8]
  • The character Puss In Boots is based on Zorro. His behavior references Zorro as he appeared in the 1998 film, The Mask of Zorro.[8] Also in the late 1950s, Zorro was adapted by Disney into a television series of the same name.
  • When Mongo first enters Far Far Away, several people run out of a parodied Starbucks cafe (in this case "Farbucks"), only to run to another location competing across the street. Mongo also spots a large replica of a Farbucks coffee cup decorated on the roof. Out of curiosity, he picks up the cup and drops it on a mail box below.
  • When the carriage is entering Far Far Away there is a shop called "Baskin Robbinhood" a parody to "Baskin Robbins".
  • When the scene pans in on Donkey during their arrival to Far Far Away, the background with the palm trees mimic the scenery of Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Cast [edit]

Special guest stars
  • Joan Rivers' cameo marked the first time that a real person had been represented on screen by the Shrek animation team. Her part (though retaining her visual representation) was redubbed by presenter Kate Thornton for the United Kingdom release.
  • On the DVD Special Features and in the U.S. edition VHS (just before the credits), Simon Cowell appears as himself on Far Far Away Idol, a parody of American Idol. (see Home Media)

Production [edit]

In July 2001, it was reported that the main cast of the original Shrek were set for huge paychecks for voicing a sequel to the movie.[9] Following a successful collaboration with the original film, Eddie Murphy had signed a two-year, first-look production deal with DreamWorks, where he also signed writer-director Todd Field to a two-year deal.[10] The film was produced with a US$70 million budget.[11][12]

The screenwriters for the first film, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, insisted the movie to be a traditional fairytale, but after disagreements with the producers, they left the project and was taken over by director Andrew Adamson. His writing of the film was inspired from Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, with the help of the co-directors for the film, who had spent most of the film's production in Northern California while Adamson spent most of the time with the voice actors in Glendale, California.[13]

DreamWorks began production of the film in 2001,[14] which was actually before the first film was even completed.[13] DreamWorks made sure there was something new to see in Shrek 2 by putting more human characters in the film than there were in its predecessor and improving their appearance, with the use of a few systems that dealt with hair and fur to improve its appearance and movement.[15] The set up for all the characters was done in the first 3 years of production.[13]

Puss in Boots required a whole new set of tools in the film to handle his fur, belt and feather plume in his hat. The character also required an upgrade in the fur shader for his introduction in the film.[16]

According to production designer Guillaume Aretos, Shrek 2 appeared to be a lot darker than the original film; "There are a lot of medieval paintings and illustrations that we used quite a bit also. Other than that there are my own influences, which are classical paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries, but those are not as direct. In fact, nothing was absolutely direct. The design of Shrek is always a twist on reality anyway, so we tried to [pack] as much detail and interest as we could in the imagery.”[17]

Soundtrack [edit]

Main article: List of songs featured in Shrek 2

Singer and songwriter Adam Duritz from Counting Crows said that his band's song, "Accidentally in Love", "fits into the movie because it's the story of people who fall in love who weren't supposed to fall in love." Composer Harry Gregson Williams operated the sound of the score on different levels which Harry said as "Fun". His score came out as an Eels song into a very romantic scene with Shrek and Fiona, or a funny scene with donkey.[18] John Powell had been left out to compose the score for the film with Williams due to a conflict.[13]

Release [edit]

In April 2004, the film was selected for competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.[19]

Shrek 2 was originally going to release in June 2004. The film then planned to release on May 21, 2004. Though, Shrek 2 released on May 19, 2004 (two days before). A day before the film went to theaters, the first five minutes were shown on Nickelodeon's U-Pick Live.

It was the first film with over 4,000 theaters in overall count; over 3,700 theaters was its count for an opening day. Spider-Man 2 was the first film with over 4,000 theaters for an opening day and second for overall counts. When the film was released on DVD on November 5, 2004, it was the second Shrek film to be presented in its original ratio of 1.85:1 on the Region 1 anamorphic widescreen DVD.

Home media [edit]

Shrek 2 was released on VHS and DVD on November 5, 2004[20] and on Game Boy Advance Video on November 17, 2005.[21] A 3D-converted version of the film was released exclusively with select Samsung television sets on Blu-ray on December 1, 2010, along with the other three films of the series.[22] A non-3D version was released on December 7, 2010, as part of Shrek: The Whole Story,[23] and a stand-alone Blu-ray/DVD combo pack was released individually on August 30, 2011, along with the other two films of the series.[24] A stand-alone 3D Blu-ray version of the film was released on November 1, 2011.[25]

Far Far Away Idol [edit]

Far Far Away Idol is an extra on the DVD and VHS release based on American Idol and guest starring Simon Cowell. Taking place right after Shrek 2 ends, the characters from Shrek compete in singing popular songs while being judged by Shrek, Fiona and Cowell.[20]

After the performances, on the DVD release, the viewer gets to pick the winner. However, if any character outside of Shrek (along with Princess Fiona), Donkey, or Puss were selected, Cowell would refuse to accept the winner and proclaim himself the victor, leaping onto a table and performing his "own" rendition of "My Way". At the end of the VHS release, it gives a link to a website where the viewer can vote for his favourite to determine the ultimate winner.[20] DreamWorks Animation announced on November 8, 2004, three days after the DVD and VHS release, that after over 750 thousand votes cast, the winner of the competition was Doris.[26]

See also: List of songs featured in Far Far Away Idol

Reaction [edit]

Box office [edit]

The film opened at #1 with a Friday-to-Sunday total of $108,037,878, and a total of $128,983,060 since its Wednesday launch, from a then-record 4,163 theaters, for an average of $25,952 per theater over the weekend. At the time Shrek 2's Friday-to-Sunday total was the second-highest opening weekend trailing only Spider-Man's $114,844,116. In addition, Saturday alone managed to obtain $44,797,042, making it the highest single day gross at the time, beating Spider-Man's first Saturday gross of $43,622,264.[2] It also ranked #1 in its second weekend, grossing $95,578,365 over the 4-day Memorial Day weekend, narrowly beating out the $85,807,341 4-day tally of new opener The Day After Tomorrow. The film spent a total of 10 weeks in the weekly top 10, and stayed in theaters for 149 days (roughly 21 weeks), closing on November 25, 2004.

The film grossed $441,226,247[27] domestically (US and Canada), and $478,612,511 in foreign markets, making a total of $919,838,758 worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of both 2004 and in its franchise. This also puts the film at 8th on the all time domestic box office list and 24th on the worldwide box office list.

The movie also took away the highest worldwide gross made by an animated feature which before held by Finding Nemo, although the latter still had a higher overseas-only gross.[28] With DVD sales and Shrek 2 merchandise are estimated to total almost $800 million, the film (which was produced with a budget of $150 million)[27] is DreamWorks' most profitable film to date.

In August 2010, Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 3 surpassed Shrek 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film worldwide ($1.063 billion), but Shrek 2 still holds the record for the highest-grossing animated film at the American and Canadian box office as well as the highest-grossing animated PG-rated film at this box office. Disney's 3D re-releases of The Lion King (in 2011) and Finding Nemo (in 2012), respectively, surpassed Shrek 2 and relegated it as the 4th highest-grossing animated film of all time.

Critical response [edit]

The film was well received by a number of critics, many rating it as good as its predecessor,[29][30] and some rated it even better.[31] Based on reviews collected from 209 critics by the film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 89% gave Shrek 2 a positive review.[32] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average rating of 75 out of 100 based on 40 professional reviews published in newspapers, magazines and in highly regarded Internet sites, which indicates "generally favorable reviews."[33]

Roger Ebert gave it three out of four stars saying it's "bright, lively, and entertaining,"[34] while Robert Denerstein of Denver Rocky Mountain News called it "Sharply funny."[35] James Kendrick praised the plot, who called it "familiar, but funny."[36]

In contrast to the praise it received, even in some positive reviews, some critics said that the film wasn't as good as the original film.[37] Peter Rainer of New York Magazine stated the film "manages to undo much of what made its predecessor such a computer-generated joy ride."[38]

Awards and nominations [edit]

Shrek 2 won five People's Choice Awards: Favorite Animated Movie, Favorite Animated Movie Star for "Donkey" (Eddie Murphy), Favorite Movie Comedy, and Favorite Movie Villain for "Fairy Godmother" (Jennifer Saunders), and Favorite Sequel. It also won two Teen Choice Awards: Choice Movie: Animated/Computer Generated and Choice Award Choice Movie - Comedy. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to The Incredibles. One of the film's songs, "Accidentally in Love" received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

The American Film Institute nominated Shrek 2 for its Top 10 Animated Films list.[39]

Other media [edit]

Video games [edit]

Main article: Shrek video games

Sequels and spin-offs [edit]

Main article: Shrek (franchise)

Shrek 2 has two sequels including Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After. A spin-off film Puss in Boots was released on October 28, 2011, and focuses on the character of Puss in Boots, who was introduced in this film.

See also [edit]

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References [edit]

  1. ^ "Shrek 2 (2004)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 4, 2009. 
  2. ^ a b Gray, Brandon (May 24, 2004). "'Shrek 2' Lands Far, Far Ahead of Summer Pack". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  3. ^ "Box Office History for Digital Animation Movies". The Numbers. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  4. ^ "DOMESTIC GROSSES Adjusted for Ticket Price Inflation". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  5. ^ "2004 DOMESTIC GROSSES". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  6. ^ "All Time Box Office Adjusted for Ticket Price Inflation". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  7. ^ "All Time Worldwide Box Office Grosses". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  8. ^ a b c Hill, Jim. "Shrek 2″ features dizzying array of in-jokes and cultural references. Did you spot them all?". Skwigly. 
  9. ^ Brodesser, Claude (July 10, 2001). "Inside Move: 'Shrek 2's' expensive voices". Variety. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  10. ^ Zorianna Kit and Chris Gardner (July 2001). "3-genre Threat Murphy Signs With D'works". The Hollywood Reporter. All Business. Retrieved January 28, 2012. 
  11. ^ "Most Expensive 3D Animated Movies, Ever!". your3dsource.com. Retrieved February 4, 2012. 
  12. ^ "Movie Budgets". The Numbers. Retrieved February 4, 2012. 
  13. ^ a b c d Alex Ben Block, Lucy Autrey Wilson (2010). George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success. HarperCollins. p. 885. ISBN 0061778893 
  14. ^ Raman Hui (2007). The Tech of Shrek The Third. Event occurs at 0:41. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFgCmrmS9p8. "We started animation in 2001."
  15. ^ The Tech of Shrek 2 - Shrek 2 DVD. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  16. ^ Desowitz, Bill (May 20, 2010). "A Decade of Shrek Tech". Animation World Network. Retrieved January 29, 2012. 
  17. ^ Desowitz, Bill (May 14, 2004). "Shrek 2: A Visual Development Gallery". Animation World Network. Retrieved May 15, 2012. 
  18. ^ The Music of Shrek 2 - Shrek 2 DVD. Retrieved July 8, 2011
  19. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Shrek 2". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved November 30, 2009. 
  20. ^ a b c "Shrek 2, the Record Shattering $439 Million Box Office Smash Premieres on DVD and VHS Friday, November 5". PR Newswire. October 7, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2012. 
  21. ^ "GBA Video: Shrek 2". IGN. Retrieved April 16, 2012. 
  22. ^ "Shrek: The Complete Collection 3D Blu-ray". Blu-ray. Retrieved August 6, 2012. 
  23. ^ "For The First Time Ever, All Four Films From The Biggest Animated Film Franchise in History Arrive Together on BLU-RAY Disc Including The Celebrated Final Chapter, Shrek Forever After". DreamWorks Animation. November 16, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2012. 
  24. ^ "Shrek 2 Blu-ray". Blu-ray. Retrieved August 6, 2012. 
  25. ^ "Shrek 2 3D Blu-ray". Blu-ray. Retrieved August 6, 2012. 
  26. ^ "In a Come From Behind Upset, an Ugly Step-Sister Becomes a Cinderella Story". DreamWorks Animation. November 8, 2004. Retrieved August 6, 2012. 
  27. ^ a b "Shrek 2 (2004)". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  28. ^ "WORLDWIDE GROSSES". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2011-04-2011. 
  29. ^ Jones, J.R. "Shrek 2 Movie Review". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
  30. ^ Minow, Nell. "Shrek 2 - Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2011-12-20. 
  31. ^ O'Sullivan, Michael (May 21, 2004). "Hilarious 'Shrek 2' Goes Hollywood". The Washington Post. p. WE45. Retrieved 2011-12-20. 
  32. ^ "Shrek 2 (2004)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 8, 2012. 
  33. ^ "Shrek 2 reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 10, 2010. 
  34. ^ Ebert, Roger (May 18, 2004). "Shrek 2". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010. 
  35. ^ Denerstein, Robert (May 21, 2004). "Shrek 2 Movie Review". Denver Rocky Mountain News. 
  36. ^ Kendrick, James. "Shrek 2 Movie Review". QNetwork Entertainment Portal. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
  37. ^ Lally, Kevin. "SHREK 2". Film Journal. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  38. ^ Rainer, Peter (May 21, 2005). "Con Anima". New York Magazine. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  39. ^ "AFI's 10 TOP 10 Official Ballot". AFI. Retrieved March 24, 2012. 
  40. ^ "Shrek 2 Activity Center: Twisted Fairy Tale Fun". IGN. Retrieved April 16, 2012. 
  41. ^ "Shrek 2: Beg for Mercy". IGN. Retrieved April 16, 2012. 

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