Shrek is love, Shrek is life… It’s no secret that this movie is going down in cinema history. It’s a film with endless (onion) layers to peel back, part of the reason it’s still beloved 25 years later.
Despite coming out a literal lifetime ago (two days after I was born, to be precise), it has never fallen out of relevance. The much-discussed fifth instalment is set to be released next year, there are stage musicals, experience days and raves across the world. The first two films are critically acclaimed and, personally speaking, will never get old.
Most of the following films in the Shrek Cinematic Universe (SCU) are just as good as the first, delivering original story lines and humour. The SCU is ever-expanding, but it doesn’t feel gratuitous. Instead of remaking the original, it follows different characters and develops the story, keeping it fresh and encouraging new generations to watch Shrek in it’s true form.
“One thing I like is the characters. A talking donkey, a prince with a hair like a mop. It is so diverse with the characters and the storytelling. The overall story is just so magical,” said Kingston student, Aryaz.
The story follows classic fairytale tropes but turns them on their head. The lesson of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ has been done to death, however Shrek makes the concept feel fresh. Perhaps because the characters don’t physically change to be able to accept themselves.
Another reason it’s prevailed is pure nostalgia, something our generation seems to crave, look at how 2016-core is trending. According to the American Psychological Association, nostalgia is beneficial to our mental health. It allows us to emotionally travel to a happier past. Is this the reason for Disney adults and grown-up muggles?
The thing with Shrek is it’s cool to like. It’s insanely quotable: the gingerbread man scene, “that’s a nice boulder”, the Scottish accent. It’s timelessly funny and ripe for meme-ification, keeping it in the cultural discussion, especially with the explosion of short-form content.
“Even my parents enjoyed watching it so yeah, I think it was important because even though it’s a kid’s movie, it engaged with adults as well,” second-year student, Lany, said.
The themes of love, belonging and identity are relatable to audiences of all ages. Shrek and Fiona are lonely and isolated by playing the roles society has taught them and they only find happiness when they stop pretending and accept their true selves.
Importantly, it’s not just about romantic love, but friendship too. Shrek and Donkey are unlikely friends, but they stick together. It’s refreshing in a genre where the sidekick is forgotten about once the guy gets the girl.
“It doesn’t make [people] feel dumb when they watch it,” another student, Petra, adds. “It’s got a great soundtrack, a great cast… It’s just great, I love it.”
Speaking of the soundtrack, it’s basically perfect. The use of pop songs is never too on-the-nose and makes for insanely memorable moments (who can listen to All Star without thinking of Shrek or vice versa?).
In the end, Shrek is a story of acceptance and letting go of who you think you should be, all the while keeping you laughing. Even a quarter of a century later, the message feels relevant and I’m ready to watch it again, for the millionth time.