Shrek

I will admit. As hugely popular as the Shrek franchise is, I'd never actually seen the movies. That is, until Todd wanted to watch them. So I put the first movie into our Netflix DVD queue and watched it. I was enchanted by the movie, and we put its sequel into the queue after returning the first one. I was a bit skeptical when we received it and began watching it, for experience has taught me that sequels rarely live up to the expectations created by the original, especially if the original was a smashing success. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was wrong about that-- not only was Shrek 2 a really good movie on its own, it built up very well from the first one.

Our appetites whetted, we sent away for the third movie. I thought to myself: they can't repeat this kind of success again, can they? Again, I was mistaken. Shrek the Third was so thoroughly enjoyable that I couldn't help but watch it again and again, and it was with some reluctance that I finally returned the DVD so we could receive the fourth, and final, installment.

By this point I was REALLY skeptical. Could a FOURTH movie live up to the hype? It seems that all the storylines have been exhausted. Major villains had been done away with in the previous 3 movies. What plot could possibly be left, aside from watching Shrek the domesticated family man... er, ogre?

I should have known. I had begun to detect a trend amongst the movies. While most movies tend to go downhill with its sequels, especially when there are multiple ones, Shrek went in the opposite direction. It started off with a really strong, enjoyable movie. But it then became, odds against all odds, even BETTER with each subsequent sequel. The second was better than the first, the third was better than the second, and-- you guessed it-- the fourth was absolutely superb. I rarely cry at movies (or at anything in life, really), but this one was moving enough to bring about a few tears. And of course, it still had the sunshine-y happy ending I've come to expect from animated movies.

I'm not sure why the whole Shrek series is so appealing to me. I certainly enjoy almost all of the animated films by Disney/Pixar and DreamWorks. Shrek seems to have become an accidental favorite, maybe partly because of the message of love, courage, and acceptance it conveys, and partly because it has managed to build steadily upon its own successes-- a rare feat in Hollywood these days, it seems.

So if you haven't seen any of the Shrek movies, I highly recommend you check them out! You won't regret it :-)