One thing that almost everyone knows about me is that my favorite movie is Shrek 2. (I have to watch it with my ogre ears on) However, people always ask me, "Why? The original is better."
These people. Are. Wrong.
Shrek 2 is a cinematic masterpiece. It is chock full of great scenes and musical numbers. Yes, the first one is great, too. From that, we get our intense love of the song All Star by Smashmouth, which is a banger. But it's still not as good. We are given so much more in the second movie, the creators have blessed us. There are so many reasons to love Shrek 2.
I will begin with the beginning of the movie. It's so cheesy and cute. Their love is so adorable it's almost sickening. Goals, right? We find the beautiful flowers and the love they share, it really is so magnificent. Even cynical people can't not love it. The music makes you want to dance and be head ogre heels in love, too.
In addition, once in the carriage to Far Far Away, we get the funny vines of Donkey annoying Shrek in the onion. It's iconic and hilarious. Good enough reason right there. Once they finally get there we get to enjoy our hype song, Funky Town. The music department was too good to us.
This movie gives us a more in-depth look into the souls of the characters. For example, we really get to see what makes Fiona, Fiona. We meet her family and get a peek into the world of Far Far Away. She is a lot kinder in the second movie. In the first movie, I thought she was really annoying. The whole princess-y attitude truly did not suit her. When she was a human she was judgmental and cold, but honestly, I might be a bit cold if I were trying to hide a secret as well. I think Fiona really blossomed into a beautiful green flower in the second movie, proving she was secure in herself.
We get Puss-in-Boots. He is a legend. Who doesn't love an adorable and badass character? This cat can charm anyone and will tear them to shreds. The boots he wears makes him so much cuter, and we have been blessed with him in this movie. He really shines. He supported his new friends through thick and thin during this story. Plus, he is voiced by Antonio Banderas. It's fantastic I could listen all day.
The humor throughout this movie is spot on. There are so many references to popular cultures, like Cops, and there are funny puns like instead of pepper spray but grinding pepper in Shrek's eyes. Plus, if you go back and watch this movie now you will get so many more jokes. I didn't realize how many adult jokes were in the movie when I was a child, so now I can appreciate it a lot more.
My biggest reason for loving this movie more is the end. There is so much drama going on. When Shrek is busting out of jail to get to Fiona there is so much going on, and he has his pals there for him the whole time. It's a great action scene and I love Mongo (the giant gingerbread man). This ending really has so much more going on than the first one.
Once Shrek gets inside we get the greatest musical number of our lives combined with action. When Fairy Godmother sings I Need A Hero, in that sparkling red ruby dress I about lose it every time. It is ICONIC. It is a truly memorable beautiful stunning enthralling moment. Shrek and all his friends fighting to get the wand from her is a moment of heroism and pure edge-of-your-seat-nail-biting magic. We see our protagonists shine. The sacrifice of the King makes me gasp every time. It really shocked us all. When Fairy Godmother turns into bubbles and dies, really is the softest but also most dramatic way to die. Then Fiona chooses to love Shrek for Shrek and the ogre he is instead of turning into a beautiful human again. True selflessness and love.
Post drama we get one of the most lit parties we will ever see. Livin La Vida Loca has never been so good. I would love nothing more than to be in that, if I could get a virtual reality for that scene I would never leave. After all the hardships faced in this movie, everyone comes together to dance away all their problems and end it with a bang and a banger.
With the DVD you get the gift of Far Far Away Idol which is the greatest fake television show of our generation. Our cast members selflessly perform for us with their most hilarious ironic songs with amazing stage presence. With animated Simon Cowell we get the sass, and the chance to vote on which cast member we believe should win. Interactive and entertaining. What more could a human or ogre want?
In the end, the creators of Shrek 2 have given us a masterpiece to watch over and over again. I do love Shrek, it is a fabulous movie, but the second is better. Only movie franchise ever where the second is better than the original. Please be inspired to treat your eyeballs with the motion picture of a lifetime.
