SHREK

US, 90 minutes, 2001, Colour.
Voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, Vincent Cassell
Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson.

Some of the purist critics at the Cannes Film Festival expressed disdain at the inclusion in the official competition of Shrek. What was a Hollywood animated entertainment doing alongside Godard, Rivette, Haneke, even David Lynch and the Coen Brothers? One presumes they were not amongst those vigorously applauding at the end of the screening. But, in any case, it did not win.

Where it will win is in the worldwide audiences who will see and enjoy it. At first description, it might not seem as if it has everything going for it. There is a green giant who, at least at the beginning, is in no way jolly. In fact, he is a green ogre, Shrek himself. He unwillingly accepts a sidekick in his adventures who is not a romantic lead either, he is a donkey with a smart tongue. Lord Farquaad (all three feet of him) is an unlikeable villain. And the princess who is rescued from her tower, guarded by a dragon, has her own deep secret.

But, don't let any of that put you off!

Shrek will entertain young audiences. But, adults will think it is made for them. And it is. While the 1990 fairytale in reverse by William Steig, has a quest, dangers, a fiery dragon, it also has a very funny screenplay that adults will appreciate. Lord Farquaad (voiced with lofty superiority by John Lithgow) has rounded up all the fairytale characters - and all you favourite characters are there from Snow White to the Three Blind Mice - and exiled them to Shrek's swamp. Shrek is not amused. He does a deal with the Lord: to bring back Princess Fiona from her castle so that Lord Farquaad can marry and become a true Prince.

Shrek has an inexplicable Scottish accent that sounds for all the world like Billy Connolly. But it is Mike Myers capitalising on one of his many Austin Powers' voices. Donkey, who wangles his way into the adventures, despite Shrek's misgivings, is one of the best features of Shrek, especially as voiced by Eddie Murphy at his wisecracking best. Shrek and Donkey are quite a team (think Bing Crosby and Bob Hope and other duos on the road).

Oh, and Cameron Diaz voices Princess Fiona. She is much more 'proactive', as managers might say these days, in participating in her rescue. The screenwriters had obviously seen Crouching Tiger and given Fiona some real martial arts' flair. It is that kind of movie.

The animation is computer-generated and has stronger, less 'cute' designing of its characters. The media kit notes: Using special tools called "Shapers", the animators were able to achieve sophisticated facial and body movements by applying interacting layers of bone, muscle, fat, skin, hair and clothing... creation of rich organic environments; clothing that moves, wrinkles and reacts to light... fire and fluids of different viscosities.

And a moral. Of course, there is. It's the obvious but very real one of not judging people by appearances. Real beauty is within. And who could quarrel with that?

1. The acclaim of this animated film? The Cannes Film Festival? Popularity around the world?

2. The quality of the animation: computer-generated scenery, characters? The 3-dimensional aspects? The importance of the voices? The musical score and songs?

3. The comedy of the film: the parody of the fairy tales, the fairytale characters, going across expectations? Yet the incorporation of the basic fairy tale of the wicked prince, the kindly hero, the humorous sidekick, the princess to be rescued, the castle and the dragon? The successful variations on the theme? The sight gags, the verbal gags? The use of contemporary settings for jokes? References to other films?

4. The 'once upon a time' aspect: the storytelling, the suspension of disbelief? The importance of the inner nature of a person rather than the outward appearances? The basic theme and its message?

5. The introduction to Shrek: in the swamp, his loneliness, the people coming from the town to hunt him - the witch-hunt like Frankenstein, his frightening the people away? The fairytale people all being banished to the swamp? His wanting to get rid of them? The meeting with the donkey, the donkey's persistence, his wanting to be alone, keeping him outside the house? The beginning of a friendship? The humorous aspects of Shrek's life: washing, food, the wax for the candle etc? The donkey and Shrek going to meet the prince? Encountering the resistance at the castle (like a Disneyland)? The tournament and the boxing and wrestling and Shrek being the winner? The reaction of the prince? His shrewdly sending them on a mission to get the princess so that he could marry her?

6. The character of the donkey, Eddie Murphy's voice and characteristic comedy, stand-up jokes? His performance at the palace and the exile of the animals, not talking for his owner, flying? The building of a friendship with Shrek? Accompanying him to the castle? His fear on the bridge and Shrek getting him across? Helping to find the princess, the dragon falling in love with him?

7. The quest: Shrek going into the palace, the confrontation with the dragon, finding the princess, the rescue? Accompanying her back?

8. The princess, her planning to meet the love of her life? The discovery of Shrek? The escape from the palace, pursuit by the dragon? Going through the countryside, the attitudes of each of them? Shrek falling in love with her? Camping out at night - and her hiding? The revelation of the truth? The discussion with the donkey? Shrek overhearing part of it and misinterpreting? The clash between the princess and Shrek? The encounter with M'sieur Hood and his Merry Men? The song-and-dance routine? The martial arts fight?

9. Lord Farqaad: three feet hight, the councillors, his wanting to be legitimate king, the "Mirror, mirror on the wall" from Snow White, the three contestants in the Blind Date kind of game? His coming to receive the princess? Her anger at Shrek, wanting the marriage to occur immediately?

10. Shrek alone in his house, the donkey being able to persuade him about the truth? His rushing in to interrupt the wedding?

11. The true kiss, the princess turning into an ogre-like woman? Not being rejected by Shrek? The marriage and the happily ever after? The donkey and the dragon? The restoration of all the fairytale characters?

12. Shrek as a piece of entertainment: the 21st century and the irreverent attitudes towards the traditions, the stand-up comedy, yet the use of the fairy tale, audiences responding to the basic fairy tale while being amused by the conventions?