Shrek 2 2004

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press: The sequel to the 2001 computer-animated hit is just as fast, funny and smart as fans were hoping it would be. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: Somebody warn Ellen Degeneres that her brief reign as best supporting cartoon voice is now in jeopardy. Read more

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune: A solid if not groundbreaking yarn. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Can an ogre live happily ever after? Can fairy tale characters be content with their fairy tale lives? Can an Oscar-winning animated success generate a successful sequel? To all these questions, Shrek 2 is happy to answer yes, yes and yes. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Gags that feel tired, too many musical interludes, a story that doesn't really progress from the first film -- Shrek 2 feels a day late and an enchanted princess short. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: A sequel as exhilarating and riotously funny as 2001's top-grossing original. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: So gorgeously animated and so thoroughly entertaining for all ages that only an ogre would complain it's not quite as fresh as the original. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: Like the first movie this is unassailable family entertainment, with a gentle fairy tale for kids and a raft of mildly satirical pop-culture references for parents. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: This second edition of DreamWorks's Oscar-winning ogre opus may not match the original for, well, originality, but it honors the prime injunction governing sequels: To thine own characters be true. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: It may not be great art, but it's funny stuff for all ages -- and that's a rare treat. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: Like Toy Story 2 and the Lord of the Rings sequels, Shrek 2 is that rare adventure follow-up that doesn't let you down. Read more

Dave Larsen, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A hilarious and heartwarming chip off the old lime-green block. Read more

Keith Phipps, AV Club: The lovable characters remain, but they never do much of interest in a sequel that's safely above average but superfluous. Read more

Bill Muller, Arizona Republic: Shrek 2 will charm audiences much like the original. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: A frenetic and very enjoyable 93 minutes at the movies for child and parent alike. Read more

Christy Lemire, Associated Press: A rare example of a sequel that's better than the original. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: Entertaining enough. Read more

Paul Clinton (CNN.com), CNN.com: Shrek 2 is a Hollywood rarity: a sequel every bit as good -- if not better -- than the original. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: Shrek 2 proves that winning writing trumps scenery chewing any day. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: It's not quite as emotionally rounded as Shrek was, but it's got heart and delirium in equal doses, as well as a firecracker rhythm all its own. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: Fast and goofy. Read more

Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly: One of the funniest movies I've seen in years. But I'm far from sure that it's a kids' movie anymore. Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: Not quite as sparkling as the first, but it gets nuttier as it goes along. Read more

David Denby, New Yorker: The movie is obvious, but consistently entertaining and animated in DreamWorks's "realistic" digitized style. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: Manages to undo much of what made its predecessor such a computer-generated joy ride. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: The sequel doesn't feel like recycled pixie dust thanks to lovably loony new characters and a story crammed with enough pop-culture references to make Quentin Tarantino cry uncle. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: Delivers more fun than there is slime in a green ogre's swamp. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Slick and playful entertainment that remains carefully inoffensive beneath its veneer of bad manners. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: A respectable effort and a solid example of family-friendly entertainment. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Shrek 2 is bright, lively and entertaining, but it's no Shrek. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: Shrek 2 brims with perverse pleasures that show no respect for the rules of kiddie-cartoon form. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com: Is it going too far out on a beanstalk to say that Shrek 2 is one of the most mature movies about adult relationships ever made? Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: The animation is still startlingly good and that, as well as the occasional bursts of wit, keeps Shrek 2 afloat. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: Should ideally be seen twice -- once with kids, once savored at something like a midnight show. Read more

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune: This sequel is above average in terms of energy, cleverness and production values. But the original computer-animated blockbuster was so far off the scale that it's hardly fair to expect this one to measure up. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: The Shrek franchise is alive and well -- Model 2 is zippier, sleeker, with ever-improving graphics, vast commercial potential and the same sly ability to reach out and hook the whole family. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: For many people, especially adults, Shrek 2 will be judged the superior of the two pictures. Read more

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine: This wonderfully animated movie is a little more softly pitched than its predecessor, but it still has plenty of rollicking spin on the ball. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: The animation's slick in a cautious, cute, conventional kind of way, and some scenes are really very funny. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: As funny, sweet and engaging as the first film. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: The appeal of the characters and the abundance of cleverness in the telling will keep viewers grinning, if not always laughing, through most of the picture. Read more

Michael Atkinson, Village Voice: Pretensions toward cohesion and character empathy are scuttled in favor of broad-barn gaggery. Read more

Stephen Hunter, Washington Post: A piecemeal plot that seems to go nowhere and be about nothing and wind up no place, somewhat effectively camouflaged by a number of intriguing but incidental bits. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: A sequel that is better and funnier than the original. Read more