★★★ 

Rewatched 12 Apr, 2020

Before you attack me, I understand this film’s cultural significance and I’m not trying to defame its iconicity in any way. I am trying to review it purely as a film and nothing more. When put up under that lens, Shrek proves to be an entertaining, yet incomplete film. In 90 mins, it defies all Disney-esque tropes, gives you a bunch of great laughs and leaves you satisfied and yet not exactly moved. It’s efforts to bring about a character arc and emotional conflict are valiant but fall flat on its face when put under closer inspection. Donkey is a lot less funny and a lot more annoying in hindsight. The vocal performances from Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz. But there’s definitely a trade-off between plot and ‘poo-pooing’ Disney tropes to form some sort of odd ‘originality’. Instead, it comes off as an odd parody that still has its own individual qualities. It’s influence on meme culture is undeniable and it’s quite an iconic movie. But it just doesn’t hold up as well from a purely cinematic point of view and wastes a lot of it’s potential on slapstick. But obviously, if you haven’t watch Shrek somehow, go watch it, it’s definitely not boring.