Shrek 2 (2004)

Theatrical Poster
Source: Wikipedia

Shrek returns to meet the in-laws.

Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) have just returned from their honeymoon when they are summoned to see the Queen and King of Far Far Away (aka Mum and Dad).

Despite Shrek's protestations, they head off with Donkey (Eddie Murphy) to see Fiona's disapproving parents. Shrek finds himself excluded by the judgemental King (John Cleese) - so much so that the King hires a ferocious hitman (Antonio Banderas) to bump Shrek off.

Following right where its predecessor left off, Shrek 2 continues in the same vein albeit with a number of new big names to the cast. Jennifer Saunders, Antonio Banderas, John Cleese, Rupert Everett and Julie Andrews are amongst those added - all hoping that Shrek 2 doesn't fall into the growing flopped sequel category.

With a film as phenomenally successful as Shrek it was always going to be difficult to follow in its footsteps, especially as the big green ogre and his Princess had already had their Happily Ever After as dictated by the Fairy Tale Rules. Dreamworks disagreed with the rules, however, sensing that there were a lot more dollars that could be made by piggybacking on Shrek's success.

With the additional cast members there was always the risk of detracting from the existing cast's comedy success. Happily, Dreamworks didn't meddle with the Mike Myers/Eddie Murphy comedy duo, keeping Shrek and Donkey at the centre of attention. In fact, adding Banderas into the mix enhanced the pair's humour showing exactly why Shrek 2 continually threatened to buck the trend of awful sequels.

The story's chronology aided the feeling that the second film was an extension of the first which, while this meant that fans of the first movie were never likely to be disappointed, also meant that it was perhaps not so accessible in the storyline department with a few fan-only jokes. However, the humour more than makes up for it and it is easily a film you can join halfway through and laugh at until snot comes from orifices you didn't know you had.

Not quite as original but still just as hilarious and full of flatulence.