Shrek 2Movie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 75 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
6 OK for kids 6+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 100
    Washington Post | Michael O'Sullivan

    Sure, the animation work is great, but it's the actors and their subtle, complex vocal performances that make us care about these fairy-tale characters. Shrek 2 is all about fantasy, but its characters are rousingly, affectingly real -- not to mention real, real funny. Read full review

  • 100
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Just as funny, sweet and engaging as the first film starring the big galoot. Read full review

  • 91
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Has a rowdy, jumpin'-jive vivacity. 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 full review

  • 90
    Variety | Todd McCarthy

    Lightning strikes twice, but not as brilliantly as before, in Shrek 2. The welcome sequel to the monster 2001 Oscar winner about an ogre's unlikely romance with a beautiful princess successfully recycles many of the qualities that made the first one an instant animated classic and worldwide smash. Read full review

  • 88
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Shrek 2 may be computer-generated, but its innate heart and glorious sense of mischief make it one of the best and most humane movies of the summer. Read full review

  • 80
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    Its cleverness and its good heart enable it to overcome a slow start, which is how all good fairy tales end. Read full review

  • 80
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    Reunites one of the best voice casts ever for an animated film to create a shrewd entertainment that again successfully aims its jokes at various age groups. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Bright, lively and entertaining, but it's no "Shrek." Maybe it's too much to expect lightning to strike twice. Read full review

  • 70
    The New York Times | Dana Stevens

    Certainly Shrek 2 offers rambunctious fun, but there is also something dishonest about its blending of mockery and sentimentality. It lacks both the courage to be truly ugly and the heart to be genuinely beautiful. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    A sequel was called for, and so a sequel has arrived -- but it's a slightly zombie-like version, with the size, look and shape of the original movie, but without its lightness or spirit, its soul. Read full review

View more reviews for Shrek 2 on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 6+ Just as much fairytale fun as the first one.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this movie has some crude potty humor and some moments of mild peril and tension. The king hires a hit man to get rid of Shrek -- luckily it's a small cat. Shrek and friends steal potions from the scheming fairy godmother. The only casualties are an enchanted character and a couple of fish.
  • Families can talk about struggles to get along. Why does the king really disapprove of Shrek? How are he and Shrek the same? Why does Shrek try so hard to change for his new family? Fiona's childhood room has images of handsome princes and princess all over it. Why does this intimidate Shrek? For the girls: do you have tiaras and princess toys in your room? What do you think of Fiona's decision to marry someone like Shrek instead of someone from her childhood dreams? Why do you think she'll be happier with Shrek than with Prince Charming?
The good stuff
  • message true1 Positive messages: Shrek learns to accept himself. But movie also includes some crude potty humor.
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence and scariness: Comic violence, no one hurt except a giant gingerbread man.
  • sex false0 Sexy stuff: Plenty of innuendo, especially when Donkey and Shrek take the potions and become "sexy." Some ogre kissing, and mermaid kissing. Pinocchio can't lie that he's wearing ladies' underwear.
  • language false0 Language: Some mild naughty words: "ass," "oh my God," etc.
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Plenty of fake commercialism in the commercial district of Far Far Away: retail shops, a version of Starbucks, and fast food.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Brief drug joke -- but the drug is really catnip.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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