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Shrek

(2001, Rated PG, Family and kids, Starring Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Gross-out laughs meet a marvelous fairytale mix.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Tolerance of individual differences, but Shrek's bad hygeine is on display for laughs. Princess Fiona is a strong character who challenges the prim-'n'-proper princess stereotype.
  • Violence & scariness :

    Characters in peril; ogre hunters wave pitchforks and torches; a bird explodes; scary fire-breathing dragon (who is much less scary when she gets a crush on Donkey); one character is eaten in one gulp by the dragon.
  • Sexy stuff :

    Mild sexual humor. Some innuendo that will go over kids' head (for example, when Shrek sees the big tower that is Farquaad's castle and says to Donkey, "Gee, think he's compensating for something?").
  • Language:

    Strong language for a PG movie, including "damn," "ass," and "crap."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Shrek

Parents need to know that this movie is rated PG, but it includes some edgy humor directed at teens and adults. It's a shame that Hollywood finds it necessary to include this material in a movie that would be otherwise perfect family fare, but that's the economic reality of this era of moviemaking. The jokes teens and adults snicker at (like when Shrek wonders if the small Lord Farquaad is compensating for something with his very tall castle) will be over the heads of most younger kids, but parents should be ready for some questions. There's also plenty of potty humor and gross-out joke directed at kids – mostly based on the appalling personal habits of ogres. Scary scenes for young ones include fights with guards, villagers coming after Shrek with pitchforks, and a fire-breathing dragon (who turns nice when she falls for Donkey). A bird explodes and its eggs are eaten, and a character is eaten in one gulp by the dragon, but it's not graphic.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Donkey's statement that Shrek has "that kind of 'I don't care what nobody thinks of me' thing." Is it true that Shrek didn't care what people thought of him? How can you tell? What did it mean to say that ogres are like onions? What does it mean to say that people have layers? Princess Fiona expected Prince Charming to save her and Shrek came instead. How did she change her mind about him? How did it help her to accept herself? Why is self-acceptance so important?
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See all 43 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Filled with sexual references, not really a film for young kids

    This film is perfectly fine for 11 year olds and over. 10 year olds need parental guidance. The content is too iffy for young kids.

  3. Teen Reviewer
    Age 17
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    kewl

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    LOVED it

    What can I say? Shrek's a lovable fellow. I didnt know what a "parfait" was at the time i saw it, though

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