h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, I just got back from Shrek 2.

The short version of my review: It didn't feel so much like a sequel. It felt more like an incredibly well-written piece of fanfiction. I enjoy fanfiction in moderation.

The long version (contains spoilers; you have been warned):

I don't agree with the critics who say that this was better than the first movie. However, I also feel that this movie was a worthy addition to the first movie that didn't ruin the original in any way.

For one thing, this wasn't set up like the anti-fairy tale that the first Shrek movie was. Yes, Shrek did refer to his shopping trip to the Fairy Godmother's place as a "quest", but outside of that it was just a generic save-the-day story. I also felt that a good deal of the mystery from the first film (what with Fiona's curse, etc.) was seriously downplayed (if not missing altogether).

Antonio Banderas' character was almost what I was expecting it to be, but I didn't quite care for his introduction to Shrek. I mean, who sides with someone FIVE MINUTES after trying to kill him initially? And just because he had initially "underestimated" him? And even if I was willing to go along with his "reason" for being "in debt" to Shrek, wasn't he in debt to kill Shrek anyway? He'd already been paid!

And as long as I'm being unecessarily nit-picky, how did the Gingerbread Man et al manage to race over 700 miles to the kingdom of Far, Far Away in what seems like only an hour or two?

In the end, I think that my biggest complaint about this film would be that it lacked the "folksy charm" that the first movie had. The whole Hollywood-esque feel to this movie just didn't feel right for some reason.

Now then, having thought about what I've just typed, I believe it looks like the above paragraphs make me look like I didn't enjoy the film. This isn't the case. I liked what I saw, and I'm really glad that I went.

I think that my favorite thing about this movie would have to be some of the background deals and the movie references. The whole "have dwarves forge a ring" thing in the beginning was great. And I started cackling when I saw the fast food joint called "Friars" or something. And John Cleese did a great job as Princess Fiona's dad (quite frankly, I think that he should've been advertised higher than Antonio Banderas. I mean, he did a great job! It wasn't until half-way through the movie that I realized that it was him)! Oh, and the two Ent-like creatures arm-wrestling in that tavern was a nice touch.

So all in all, while I didn't agree with the critics, I can definitely see why any number of people would. It just felt like more of a generic movie than the first Shrek film. My working theory is that people are just so used to sequels being horrible in comparison to the first movie that when a sequel of roughly the same value comes along it automatically receives high praise.

So yeah. I recommend this movie, but you can afford to pay the electric bill first. Wouldn't be a huge loss to have to wait for it on video/dvd.

Oh, and one last thing: Donkeys and Dragons shouldn't mix. Ever.

Well, I'd disagree with you in that the first movie was an "anti-fairy tale", being that the whole moral of the first one was basically a rehash of the Ugly Duckling/don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover scenario. Just, with the Macarena and Eddie Murphy.