Comedy legends Mike Myers, Oscar® nominee Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz return to their signature roles as Shrek, Donkey and Fiona. Emmy winning superstar Zendaya (The Odyssey, Dune franchise) joins the cast as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter Felicia, along with Marcello Hernandez (Saturday Night Live, Happy Gilmore 2) and Skyler Gisondo (Superman, Booksmart) as Felicia’s brothers, Fergus and Farkle.

Shrek 5 is directed by acclaimed filmmakers and Shrek franchise veterans Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn. Vernon was a member of the directing team on the Academy Award® nominated Shrek 2 as well as on DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted and Monsters vs. Aliens. Vernon has also provided the voice of Shrek fan-favorite Gingerbread Man, aka “Gingy,” across all titles in the Shrek Universe. Dohrn worked on the second and third Shrek films as a writer and artist and as Head of Story on the fourth film. Dohrn also voiced the character of Rumpelstiltskin in Shrek Forever After. Dohrn served as co-director on the first Trolls film and directed Trolls World Tour and Trolls Band Together.

The film is produced by returning producer Gina Shay (Trolls franchise), who produced Shrek Forever After and by Illumination CEO and Academy Award® nominee Chris Meledandri (the Super Mario, Despicable Me and Minions franchises). The film is co-directed by Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Simpsons).

For the past two decades, audiences have been enchanted by the delightful, irreverent adventures of a misunderstood ogre and his ragtag group of roguish fairytale folk, based on the book by acclaimed author William Steig. Beginning in 2001 with Shrek, the winner of the first ever Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, Shrek, Donkey and Fiona (along with their friends, family and tormentors), have grown into an indelible part of pop culture, reminding audiences around the globe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The four Shrek films have earned more than $2.9 billion worldwide, spawning a global live-touring show, an award-winning Broadway musical that earned eight Tony nominations and 12 Drama Desk nominations, plus an immersive, top-tourist destination in London and popular events and attractions across Universal Destinations & Experiences’ theme parks.
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The plot line revolves around Diaz getting dumped by her rich fiancé and being forced to continue with the teaching gig, a job she is almost completely unsuited to. She thinks a set of new boobs will help her to snare a new rich man and spends the rest of the film trying to scam, cajole and out right steal the money to pay for the procedure. It’s a simple story line that doesn’t get in the way of all the bad taste gags.

The only real complaint with the film is that is doesn’t go far enough, as there are times the film’s story line is dragged down a bit by portraying Diaz as having to have redeeming characteristics. It’s an unnecessary move are we are already in love with her rude, crude and entertaining behaviour.

The list of amusing anti-hero films has just grown by one and it’s a female driven device to boot. It’s uncouth, vulgar and offensive (just like I remember high school) and comfortably sits alongside its comic sibling, Bad Santa.

Rob Hudson
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The comic elements of this film provide the viewer with the most entertainment and Cruise is at his best when he tones down his more strident nature on-screen. Cameron Diaz provides just the right amount of wide-eyed innocence to sell her side of the story and together they actually have a fair amount of chemistry.

The story, as is the case in most films of this type (a tale of spies and double crosses) is almost completely preposterous and that really just adds to the fun. This is good old-fashioned turn off the brain, chomp on popcorn fun. Its lack of ambition story-wise doesn’t get in the way of the good times at all.

If Cruise can stay off the couch, take himself less seriously and continue to choose roles that cast him in a comic light, he might be able to transcend his past transgressions and return to matinee idol status. Even John Travolta got past Battlefield Earth.

Rob Hudson
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Part one of the film makes for some very uncomfortable viewing as it’s far more cringe than comedy but part two is actually quite funny as the viewer buys into the ridiculous storyline. It’s one of those film only stories where the main protagonists continually do things that only people in movies would actually do.

Casting also cuts fifty/fifty as there are few cinematic experiences less appealing than seeing lead actor Jason Segel naked and not to be gender biased, lead actress Cameron Diaz also shows a bit more than is comfortable. The rest of the cast put in workman efforts and blend into the background without leaving much of a ripple.

The film also cuts down the middle while walking a line between showing that there is indeed life after having children and getting completely lost as a person when the routine of child rearing takes over. It’s not unlike the recent comedy Bad Neighbor in that respect.

When the dual nature of the film evens out, what we are left with is a comedy that takes a couple of reels to hit it stride and then delvers some genuine laughs. It also sufficiently and comically answers the question of how can a major Hollywood studio make a film called Sex Tape and have it be rated MA and not R18+ (or the American equivalent of R and NC-17).

Rob Hudson
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