Parents' Guide to

Shrek 2

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Just as much fairy tale fun as the first one.

Movie PG 2004 100 minutes
Shrek 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 7+

Based on 22 parent reviews

DRico39
DRico39 Adult
September 21, 2021
age 8+

Not for 6 year olds!

I trust Common Sense Media and this was the first time a review didn't jive with me or my kids. Shrek 2 is fun...but not for 6 year olds. The fairy godmother's song has the word "sexy" in the lyrics at least twice. There are guns and violence and Pinocchio is wearing a thong! Watch with your kids if you want to explain what a thong is.

This title has:

Too much violence
6 people found this helpful.
Accurate P.
Accurate P. Parent of 15-year-old
August 17, 2022
age 6+

Better than the original.

Rated PG
2 people found this helpful.
See all 22 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In SHREK 2, Shrek (voiced by 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?

Our review:
Parents say (22):
Kids say (91):

All you need to know is Shrek's second adventure 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. Shrek 2 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 is astonishing for its time. 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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about struggles to get along in Shrek 2. 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?

  • How do the characters in Shrek 2 demonstrate integrity? Why is this an important character strength?

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