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Shrek (2001)

★★★ — Shrek (2001)

Shrek arrived in 2001 as DreamWorks Animation's most direct shot across Pixar's bow, a $60 million computer-animated feature built on technology developed by Pacific Data Images, the studio DreamWorks had acquired a few years earlier. The film was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, both making their feature debuts, with Adamson later going on to helm the first two Narnia pictures. It was adapted from William Steig's 1990 children's picture book, though the production is probably better remembered for its irreverent tone than its source material. The casting had its complications too, with Chris Farley originally recording the bulk of Shrek's dialogue before his death in 1997, after which Mike Myers took over the role and eventually insisted on re-recording everything in a Scottish accent.

Yeah yeah, I know, “All Star” plays, and suddenly we’re all 12 again. And look, Shrek is charming, clever, and groundbreaking for its time. It flipped the fairy-tale formula on its head and gave us one of the most iconic animated characters of the 2000s. The humor lands (especially the meta jokes for adults), Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy are having way too much fun, and the OG Donkey is still comedy gold. But… time hasn’t been super kind. It’s aged a bit more “meh” than magical, especially after so much memeification and endless sequels. The irony and self-awareness that made it fresh now feel a little tired. Still a classic, just maybe not a top-tier one.

Rating: ★★★ | Year: 2001 | Watched: 2025-07-20

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