It's hard to believe that the first Shrek film came out almost two decades ago (way back in 2001, when the first Harry Potter film was released). It's hard to believe in part because everyone is still talking about the Dreamworks animated franchise that got its own Broadway musical. But why everyone is still talking about the franchise varies.
Viewers and audiences alike loved the first two films while Shrek three and four were not hits. It's been nearly twenty years, but that just means there's even more to talk about, and it's time to decide whether or not Shrek is a lasting classic.
Aged Well - All Ages
Shrek was a major success because it really was an animated film for all ages. Kids loved the humor of Eddie Murphey's Donkey and adults appreciated the humor and the jokes aimed in their direction, right over the kids' heads.
At a time when the movies were dominated by feel-good Disney fare (see Monsters Inc. and The Road to El Dorado) Shrek had a scene for every family member to enjoy, rather than the family sitting together just because the film kept the attention of the youngest member. Shrek's focus on a wider audience still rings true.
Aged Poorly - Only Half of The Films Are Good
As a full franchise, Shrek has always suffered for lack of quality overall. While the first two films are beloved, Shrek has a 7.8 on IMDb and Shrek 2 has a 7.2, the third and fourth outing are rated at 6.1 and 6.3 respectively.
While franchises can survive with a less than stellar outing, Shrek doesn't really deserve to be a classic franchise if only the first film can really be held up as quality content this many years after the fact.
Aged Well - Jokes
Many of the jokes, especially those aimed at an older audience, continue to ring true to this day. From Lord Farquaad "compensating for something" to the Gingerbread man being tortured by being dipped in milk, many of the jokes don't need to be explained or reinterpreted this many years later.
They always work because they reference things that are universally understood and appreciated by an audience.
Aged Poorly - Pop Culture References
While many of the jokes continue to entertain, the pop culture references, which much of the Shrek series is dependent on for its laugh become problematic this far down the road.
While adults who were children when the films came out may still appreciate shout outs to The Matrix, and the original Mission Impossible, Cops and Flashdance might even be beyond them. Any even younger generations are likely to lose a lot of enjoyment by needing to look up the references they are supposed to laugh at.
Aged Well - The Soundtrack
From I'm a Believer, by Smash Mouth, as well as All Star by Smash Mouth, to Holding Out for a Hero by Jennifer Saunders, Shrek hit all its marks when it came to a singalong soundtrack that the whole family can enjoy.
Even if the movies can't be defined as classics just yet, the songs certainly are. They continue to appear on playlists as well as the radio (for those who still listen) and that's proof that they have aged well already.
Aged Poorly - CGI
It's hard to hold the CGI of the original Shrek film against it, it was great at the time, but it's hard to appreciate in an age where The Lion King is now animated with lifelike animals.
While Toy Story was chosen as the first Pixar film because animating toys would work with the technology available, Shrek just went for it and, while that was appreciated in 2001, it can be hard to watch alongside new computer-animated films like The Incredibles II.
Aged Well - Parody
While some pop culture references may fall flat these days the fact that, overall, the Shrek films are a parody of the classic tropes found in fairy tales remains relevant and understandable to quite a wide audience.
While some viewers may never have seen Flashdance, most viewers have certainly heard the tales of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and all the classic creatures like dragons, and ogres, and blind mice. So the fact that Shrek puts an ogre in the place usually occupied by a prince remains both amusing and understandable to all.
Aged Poorly - Donkey
Eddie Murphy voiced some of the most well-loved animated characters of the late 90s and early 2000s. Mushu from Mulan anyone? But despite Murphy's voice talents, Donkey as a character has become grating over the years.
Considering the fact that he lacks a meaningful backstory (unlike Shrek, Fiona, and Puss in Boots) also makes him harder to love and remember when compared to the characters that were created around him.
Aged Well - Princess Fiona
Before Merida, Moana, or Tiana, there was Fiona. She not only fought her own battles, but she also represented an underrepresented girl in the princess set, someone independent and comfortable in their own skin.
When she chooses to remain an ogre, as well as hold onto the life and the ogre she loves, it was supposed to be a plot twist, but fans should have expected it all along. She's proud of who she is, what she looks like, what she can do, and who she loves. That never goes out of style.
Aged Poorly - Over the Top Voice Work
Upon re-watching the Shrek films, despite the incredible talent present in a cast that included Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy, it often sounds as if viewers are being shouted at for over an hour.
Whether it's Shrek's accent or Donkey's attention-seeking, there was never quite enough nuance in the voice work to make listening to it, again and again, a very enjoyable experience.