DreamWorks Animation, part of the company founded by David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg, hit great success in 2001 with the first of their adaptations of William Steig’s picture books.
Shrek (Mike Myers) is an Ogre who likes to be alone, but his peace is shattered when all manner of animals end up in his swamp, among them a Donkey (Eddie Murphy) . Incensed, he decides to seek out the cause of his rage, Lord Farquahr (John Lithgow), who tells him that if he can rescue a princess called Fiona locked up in a tower guarded by a fierce dragon, he can claim back his swamp.
Shrek and Donkey head out on their quest and sure enough get to where they need to go. However, after they rescue Fiona (Cameron Diaz), all is not what it seems in this fairy tale….
…and that is the joy of this animated classic that is suitable for everyone. Eddie Murphy found a new niche in success doing voiceover work as Donkey that more than matches the wonderful work he did in the likes of BEVERLY HILLS COP – and more recently in the biopic of Rudy Ray Moore, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME.
Subverting any number of classic Disney yarns, SHREK delivers.