Ugly Ogre, Nifty Sequel

The third blockbuster movie to be released this summer has the requisite battles, the monsters, and the love story. However, unlike "Van Helsing" and "Troy" it also has a heart, an admirable hero, and a wonderful sense of humor. All this and a sequel...who knew?

"Shrek 2" is precisely what you'd expect from the makers of the original "Shrek" - a highly amusing spoof on fairy tales and popular culture that only somewhat hides it's message of "be true to yourself". It's cheesy, but it works in the movie.

Instead of skewering Disney, "Shrek 2" takes on the theory of "happily ever after". What happens when a princess marries an ogre? Can they really live happily ever after? Well, I guess we all know the answer to that. However, the trip the movie takes us through is still worth it.

Antonio Banderas is especially welcomes as Puss-In-Boots, Shrek's would-be assassin. He easily sends up both his Zorro performance and his general movie persona. Puss and Donkey's plays for Shrek's affection are very entertaining. Another vocal stand-out is Jennifer Saunders as Fiona's Fairy Godmother. She is a wonderful blend of sickly sweet and deviously back-stabbing and her "songs" are spectacular. As the King and Queen of Far Far Away, John Cleese and Julie Andrews are fine, neither making much of an impression. Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz work well together as Shrek and Fiona, imbuing their bickering with the undertone of feeling that you saw develop in the first movie. And, as in the original, Eddie Murphy steals the show as Donkey, the annoyingly verbal side-kick who just wants to be loved.

Though "Shrek 2" lacks the magic of the original, it's still a good time, which is more than can be said about the majority of movies out right now.