Shrek 2: Critic Reviews

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.

Slick and playful entertainment that remains carefully inoffensive beneath its veneer of bad manners.

Perhaps this sequel no longer has the shock of the new, but the animation is stupendous, with breathtaking effects of light and detail, the gags come thick and fast and the musical numbers are uproarious.

As funny, sweet and engaging as the first film.

A sequel that is better and funnier than the original.

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.

A frenetic and very enjoyable 93 minutes at the movies for child and parent alike.

Pretensions toward cohesion and character empathy are scuttled in favor of broad-barn gaggery.

Delivers more fun than there is slime in a green ogre's swamp.

Entertaining enough.

Fast and goofy.

Shrek 2 proves that winning writing trumps scenery chewing any day.

Manages to undo much of what made its predecessor such a computer-generated joy ride.

Shrek 2 is bright, lively and entertaining, but it's no Shrek.

A solid if not groundbreaking yarn.

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.

A sequel as exhilarating and riotously funny as 2001's top-grossing original.

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.

Shrek 2 is thoroughly enjoyable and will keep audiences of all ages laughing.

Shrek 2 will charm audiences much like the original.

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.

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.

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.

For many people, especially adults, Shrek 2 will be judged the superior of the two pictures.

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.