Shrek 2 4K 2004

When I went to see this movie in the theater, remembering the previous "Shrek", I was hoping to see something fun, colorful and uplifting, but not particularly masterpiece. Who knew that "Shrek 2" would so exceed my expectations?

I'll start with my main point: the movie is, I won't dare say it, gorgeous in every sense. Awesome from the first frame to the last frame in everything. There's the under-the-table humor, the heart-piercing and touching-to-tears love story (maybe I'm just too sentimental?), and the fairytale atmosphere, diluted with superb, downright sparkling characters (Puss in Boots, not to mention the rest), and filigree right on target parodies, and the grand castle storming to the delightful action remix of "Holding out for a hero". The movie is stuffed to the brim with great finds of the creators, and there is just no time for boredom.

The actors who give voice to their characters rock out in style. Banderas, voicing Cat, hilariously mocks Zorro, Myers convincingly reveals his Green Giant, though, it seems to me, the voice of our actor, dubbing Mike, suits him better. By the way, the Russian voice acting also deserves close attention: the voices are chosen very precisely, the actors are giving their all, the translation is clear and, most importantly, colorful. Going back to the original, I want to praise each and every person individually, but then the review would stretch ten pages, so I just say that all are great. Their characters are just as great, both the old ones and the great multitude of new lead, supporting and cameo ones, and you could make a spin-off about any one of them.

The humor in the film is exceptionally diverse, from naive childish to vulgar adult. But the strange thing is that in other movies one wants to roll one's eyes and spit up on the screen with childish or vulgar humor, but here every joke falls into place. And even when you view the movie for the tenth time, fits of laughter mercilessly bend in half and make you roll on the floor, hysterically banging your fist on it. If you started watching the second "Shrek" in a bad mood, rest assured that by the end you will have a bright smile on your face.

The music is more than well chosen. I would even say exceptionally well chosen. This goes for the Harry Gregson-Williams score and the songs of different genres, including the rousing "Accidentally in love", which, by the way, was written especially for the cartoon.

Although I don't have much respect for cartoons, this one won me over once and for all. And I can safely say that, if this goes on, I'll probably change my attitude to this genre. I could write several more pages of text, picking apart every character, every action and every phrase, but believe me, watching this terrific film will tell you much more than a few hundred words.