SHREK 2
A funny, flawed sequel that prizes selfless love over magic.
Should You Watch It?
You should see Shrek 2 if your family can exercise discernment about crude humor and fantasy elements. The sequel is not as funny or exciting as the first film, and its politically correct tone creates some distracting ideas. Still, its animation shows a giant leap in creativity and technical prowess, while Eddie Murphy’s Donkey and Antonio Banderas’ Puss In Boots provide wonderfully entertaining comic performances.
The film’s best qualities are moral. It values forgiveness, repentance, self-sacrifice, selfless love, honor, valor, and the courage to do what is right. It also strongly rejects the idea that magic and spells can bring real happiness.
The practical answer is yes: Shrek 2 is worth the trip for older children and adults who can discuss its weaknesses with care.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESShrek and Fiona have just married and return from their honeymoon to their home in the swamp. Soon, Fiona’s parents invite the newlyweds to their kingdom, Far, Far Away.
The royal meeting does not go as planned. As family tensions grow, Fiona’s Fairy Godmother and her conceited son, Prince Charming, begin working to separate Shrek and Fiona forever.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly entertaining film despite its weaknesses. The animation makes a giant leap forward in creativity and technical prowess. The last half becomes much more hilarious, and the performances by Antonio Banderas as Puss In Boots and Eddie Murphy as Donkey are especially entertaining.
The sequel is not as funny or exciting as the original, and the music is not quite as richly entertaining, though it includes a couple of nice numbers. The story also suffers from two conflicting premises, making its resolution less satisfying than the first film’s. Even so, the animation, humor, and memorable supporting characters make this a strong sequel.
The Worldview
Shrek 2 presents a light Christian worldview centered on self-sacrifice rather than self-seeking. Its moral vision favors forgiveness, repentance, thinking of others before yourself, selfless love, honor, valor, and the courage to do the right thing. The story also revolves around seeking a father’s blessing and emphasizes treating others as you would want to be treated.
The film strongly rejects the belief that magical spells and fairy-tale enchantments can bring happiness. Its characters eventually reject the Fairy Godmother’s spells and potions, and her potion factory even pollutes the air in Far, Far Away. These ideas align with the biblical understanding that happiness cannot be manufactured through false powers or selfish desire.
At the same time, the film has a politically correct tone and pokes fun at traditional fairy-tale ideas about beauty, romance, and the handsome prince. It also includes several jokes about cross-dressing that the source review finds inappropriate and offensive. These choices compete with the film’s stronger message about selfless love and make the story less cohesive.
The film’s central longing is for love that gives rather than takes. Scripture says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light Christian worldview where self-sacrifice is valued over self-seeking, with light Romantic elements favoring personal expression over rules and regulations, with some solid moral elements where protagonists reject use of magic and spells, but also with a politically correct tone and a few jokes about cross dressing, e.g., the Ugly Stepsister looks and talks like a man dressed in women’s clothing, the Big Bad Wolf wears Grandma’s night clothes as he does in the fairy tale, and Pinocchio admits to wearing thong underwear; three or four light obscenities, one light profanity, some flatulence jokes, burps, and cat character coughs up a hairball; some slapstick and action violence, such as characters and objects knocked over, Puss In Boots wields a sword, soldiers fight off a creature, and character orders an assassination; references to honeymoon and males wearing female clothing; upper male nudity; alcohol; a brief drug reference; and, lying, deceit, attempted assassination, and blackmail rebuked. GENRE: Animated/Fantasy/Comedy
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film praises self-sacrifice and thinking of others before yourself. What does love that gives rather than takes look like in your family?
Philippians 2:3–4 · John 15:13The characters must consider forgiveness and repentance. How are those different, and why do both matter when someone has done wrong?
2 Corinthians 7:10 · Colossians 3:13The story questions whether outward beauty can bring lasting happiness. What does Scripture say God sees when He looks at a person?
1 Samuel 16:7 · Proverbs 31:30The film rejects the promise that spells and potions can provide real happiness. Where should people turn when they are looking for security or fulfillment?
Psalm 16:11 · Matthew 6:33The Final Word
Shrek 2 is a visually inventive, highly entertaining sequel with strong messages about selfless love, forgiveness, and doing what is right. Its inappropriate jokes and mixed worldview call for discernment, especially with younger children. For older children and adults, our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND UP.
