 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Shrek 2
- Review Date: November 3, 2004
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
Just as much fairytale fun as the first one.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has some crude potty humor and some moments of mild peril and tension. The king hires a hit man to get rid of Shrek -- luckily it's a small cat. Shrek and friends steal potions from the scheming fairy godmother. The only casualties are an enchanted character and a couple of fish.
What's the story?
In the second adventure, Shrek (voice of Mike Myers) and Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are blissfully married and honeymooning in a gingerbread house, Hansel's Honeymoon Hideaway. When they get back to the swamp, Donkey (Eddie Murphy) is waiting to welcome them home, but trouble begins when Shrek finally meets Fiona's parents, King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews), who were expecting a human princess married to Prince Charming, not two big green ogres. The queen sees how happy Fiona is and tries to adjust, but the king, pushed by Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) does everything he can to get rid of Shrek, even hiring a hit man, or, more properly a hit cat -- none other than the swashbuckling Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas). But the bigger obstacle to the couple's living happily ever after is Shrek himself, who worries that Fiona would be better off married to a handsome prince. So he sets out in search of a magical solution. And before we get to the happily-ever-after ending, there will be encounters with Pinocchio, the three pigs, Sleeping Beauty, and the Gingerbread Man, and a bunch of new characters, including a growly voiced wicked stepsister (Larry King!) and a very vain Prince Charming, who tosses his hair in slow motion (Rupert Everett).
Is it any good?
All you need to know is that SHREK 2 is pure enjoyment, with stunningly brilliant technology and hilarious performances. And it has a script that is filled with wit, wisdom, heart, and so-funny-you'll-have-to-see-it-twice comedy, with nonstop humor ranging from subtle and sophisticated satire to unabashedly un-subtle slapstick and potty jokes. The movie manages to make fun of just about everything, including its fairy tale sources, and yet be so resonant of the true themes of fairy tales that it is genuinely touching.
The technology continues to be astonishing. The surfaces and textures are eye-poppingly vivid, almost more real than real. The movie has breathtakingly beautiful backgrounds, exquisite detail, and characters so magnificently yet subtly expressive you expect to see them interviewed by James Lipton on Bravo. The voice talent is spectacular and perfectly integrated with the expressions and gestures of the animated characters. It's going to be hard to think of the dashing and brilliantly funny Banderas as anything but a cat from now on. There is a lot to look at, but there is even more to feel, with characters so tender and charming that you will cheer for a happily-ever-after-ending -- and cheer even louder at the announcement of Shrek the Third.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about struggles to get along. Why does the king really disapprove of Shrek? How are he and Shrek the same? Why does Shrek try so hard to change for his new family? Fiona's childhood room has images of handsome princes and princess all over it. Why does this intimidate Shrek? For the girls: do you have tiaras and princess toys in your room? What do you think of Fiona's decision to marry someone like Shrek instead of someone from her childhood dreams? Why do you think she'll be happier with Shrek than with Prince Charming?
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AGE
Perfect for young boys*
We all truly like this "fairytale". Shrek shows a new kind of humor with me. Also, my kids liked to see how an ogre lived!
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AGE
Even funnier and better than the first Shrek !
(Shrek 2) is animated fairytale that's even funnier and better tan the first Shrek. I LOVE this film. Donkey is even better and funnier than he was in the first Shrek film. Puss In Boots is funny. too. I LOVE THIS FILM !!! SEE IT ON DVD TODAY !!! I gave SHREK 2 an ON 4 6+ and a full five (out of five stars) star grade A+ !!!! I LOVE THIS FILM A LOT !!!
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AGE
It is a good family movie for most school age kids and parents.
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AGE
A Truly Hilarious Sequel Much Better Than the Original!
VERY funny. One of my favorites. The only objectionable content are some mild innuendos and some mild language. Great for kids 8 and up. Highly recommended.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 1, 2011
AGE
Wonderful!
Good movie! Made me laugh on some parts! But plenty of drugs, consumerism, shrek and fiona kiss, violence and bad language like "a-s" "oh my god" "butt" "poop" and plenty other potty language bad for little kids.
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AGE
Even at 6+, I don't want my children to watch a "kid" movie that has inappropriate words and sexual innuendo. Should be kept out of school-aged kid movies or rated PG-13.
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AGE
Lots of laughs for grown-ups
I went with my 5 year old. He loved it and I thought that all the allusions to well-known films were hysterical. Great movie.
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AGE
I was... slightly amused...
I watched this movie, Shrek 2, recently, and this just kind of goes along with all sequels- the number sequels are always worse. Sure, it was sort of funny in places- the "Donragons", as I call them, and maybe a few lines and... well, I don't want to give away the story! Overall it was pretty good, but there was quite a bit of "kissy-kissy" stuff and that just threw me off. Other than that it was alright, but NOTHING will ever beat Shrek (well, OK, somethings maybe, but not this movie!)!
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AGE
Edgy for little kids
Shrek is known for bieng an iffy film to watch on family movie night. Shrek 2 keeps that reputation. The a word is said. Shrek gets kicked in the private area as a pathetic joke for viewers. The movie itself isn't pathetic, but it's foundation relies on the inopropriote jokes
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| Topics: | princesses and fairies, adventures, book characters, friendship, misfits and underdogs |
| Studio: | DreamWorks |
| Directors: | Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury |
| Cast: | Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 100 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 26, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | November 5, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some crude humor, a brief substance reference and some suggestive content |
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