All four instalments of the successful CGI-animated Dreamworks
franchise. In 'Shrek' (2001), Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) is a
reclusive ogre living in a swamp on the edges of a fairytale
kingdom. The vain yet diminutive ruler of the land, Prince
Fahrquaad (John Lithgow) decides to streamline his kingdom by
getting rid of all the fairytale characters who promptly decamp
to live in Shrek's swamp. Faced with these unwanted tenants,
Shrek strikes a deal with the Prince, promising to find and
return with Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), marriage to whom will
finally confer on the Prince his kingly status. In return, the
Prince promises to evict the various characters living on Shrek's
land. Shrek's task is further irritated by the unwanted company
of a tirelessly wise-cracking Donkey (Eddie Murphy), and while
their adventure bears all the hallmarks of a classic fairytale,
nothing in 'Shrek' turns out quite as you might expect. In the
sequel, 'Shrek 2' (2004), Shrek (Myers) returns from his
honeymoon with his bride Princess Fiona (Diaz) to find an
invitation from Fiona's parents, King Harold (John Cleese) and
Queen Lilian (Julie Andrews) asking the newlyweds over to the
Land Far, Far Away for dinner. On their arrival, they find that
the King and Queen are less than pleased to see their daughter
hitched to an affable green ogre, and looking rather the worse
for wear herself compared to her former dazzling royal
brilliance. When reminded by a conniving Fairy Godmother
(Jennifer Saunders) of an ancient deal to match Fiona with her
son, the vain and pompous Prince Charming (Rupert Everett),
Shrek's new in-laws and their accomplices pull out all the stops
to rid their kingdom of Shrek and restore their daughter to her
former beauty - including hiring the services of notorious
swashbuckling ogre-slayer Puss-in-Boots (Antonio Banderas). Eddie
Murphy also reprises his role as the faithful Donkey. In 'Shrek
the Third' (2007), Shrek (Myers) embarks on another whirlwind
adventure with Donkey (Murphy) and Puss in Boots (Banderas) to
find the rightful heir to the throne, the awkward Arthur (Justin
Timberlake), after his frog-in-law suddenly croaks. Unfortunately
the envious Prince Charming (Everett) has designs on the throne
himself, joining with other fairytale villains in a coup d'etat
to seize the crown. Can Shrek, with a magically misguided Merlin
(Eric Idle), a powerful posse of princesses, and a bundle of
unexpected arrivals, manage to save the day? In the fourth and
final film, 'Shrek Forever After' (2010), Shrek (Myers) has
finally settled down to become a domesticated family ogre after
all of his many and varied adventures. Yearning for the days when
he felt like a real ogre, Shrek is duped into signing a pact with
smooth-talking wheeler-dealer Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn). He
immediately finds himself plunged into a twisted alternate
version of Far Far Away where ogres are hunted, Rumpelstiltskin
is king, all his friends have completely different personalities,
and Shrek and Fiona (Diaz) have never even met. It is now up to
Shrek to save his friends, restore his world and recl his one
True Love.