Review of Shrek (2001) by Thequietgamer — 14 Aug 2018

I remember this being controversial with more conservative parents when it first released for being marketed towards children, but having a lot of adult humor. I can understand why. Shrek is pretty blatant with it's sexual innuendos and profanity. I wouldn't show it to really little kids either. Probably only the more discerning tweenagers and up.

Shrek skewers fairy tale tropes with it's sarcastic sense of humor without ever straying too far away from them. The idea being to allow the outcasts to finally get their happily ever after ending while simultaneously giving a sullen middle finger to the beautiful people who almost have one handed to them. That's what works for me with Shrek. I'm an ugly guy who has always been judged for both my appearance and the fact that I don't act like everyone else does. This movie showed me a protagonist with similar qualities and allowed him to find friendship, true love, and grow as a person (Er... Ogre).

And isn't that the point of fairy tales? To enchant listeners with stories where anyone downtrodden can have hope? Why is it then that most of the time only the 10/10 hotties have been able to get a happy ending?

Shrek is an escapism fantasy for those who don't typically get to have one outside of what they imagine for themselves.