A sharp, fast-moving fairy-tale parody with enough heart to outlast its pop-culture jokes. It works both as a kid-friendly adventure and as a sly send-up of storybook clichés, with memorable voice performances and a surprisingly sincere romance at its center.
Shrek
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Animation · Comedy
Fri · 1h 30m
Director: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz
Overview
It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.
Director
Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Cast
Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz
Curator Review
Verdict
A sharp, fast-moving fairy-tale parody with enough heart to outlast its pop-culture jokes. It works both as a kid-friendly adventure and as a sly send-up of storybook clichés, with memorable voice performances and a surprisingly sincere romance at its center.
Best for
families looking for a crowd-pleasing animated adventure
viewers who like fairy-tale satire and pop-culture comedy
fans of buddy-comedy chemistry
people who enjoy warm, underdog stories with a romantic payoff
Skip if
you want straight fantasy without jokes or self-awareness
you dislike broad comedy and modern pop-song needle drops
you prefer animation that feels more visually delicate or lyrical
you are looking for a purely children’s film with no irony for adults
Overview
Shrek is one of the defining animated comedies of the 2000s because it understands the joke and the feeling underneath it. The movie skewers fairy-tale convention, but it never becomes cynical; the punchlines are built around insecurity, loneliness, and the desire to be accepted. That balance is what gives it staying power beyond the meme era.
Worth noting
The voice cast is a big part of the appeal. The ogre-donkey pairing has genuine comic rhythm, and the princess storyline lands because the film keeps finding ways to make its romance feel earned rather than obligatory. Even when the humor gets rowdy, the movie is carefully structured and emotionally legible, which helps it play for both kids and adults.
Bottom line
Its biggest weakness is also part of its identity: some of the contemporary references and musical cues are very much of their moment. But the core satire is broad enough to survive that datedness. As a family movie, a parody, and a studio-era animation landmark, it remains easy to recommend.
Top Letterboxd reviews
clownhead (4★) · 11745 likes
wonder how leonard cohen feels knowing that for an entire generation the beautiful chords of "hallelujah" will just conjure up the mental image of two ogres pining for one another
sree (5★) · 8308 likes
DÖNKÆ
Jay (3.5★) · 7893 likes
the social network never included the part where mark zuckerberg steals the facebook logo design from lord farquaad
demi adejuyigbe · 6529 likes
for Halloween, we dressed up like French people, made a galette and some crepes, turned our TV to black and white, and watched Shrek in French with subtitles for a long-planned French Shrek night. What have I learned by watching Shrek as if it were a Godard film? Absolutely nothing. I don’t think the music choices work very well in the places they use them. Funny to hear French people say “Shrek.” The parfait joke doesn’t work in French! My sympathies to the French population.
ciara (5★) · 4461 likes
she’s married to the muffin man the muffin man? THE MUFFIN MAN!
Themes
fairy-tale parody, unlikely friendship, self-acceptance, romantic comedy, outsider identity, rescue quest, family-friendly adventure, satire of royalty and heroism
Topics
animation, fantasy comedy, family adventure, fairy-tale satire, buddy comedy, romantic quest, 2000s, pop-culture humor, underdog story, heartfelt