Hey, what do you want? It's a fun, cuddly movie with some actual funny parts. Don't mean to sound like I'm from Massachusetts, but it's fun for the whole family! That wasn't a gay joke, it was an East Coast joke. Leave me alone. PC whiners. Anyway, the movie held up.

Although Mike Myers and his dumbass Scotch accent did become increasingly annoying throughout the downfall of his comedic talent, it has been accepted now that he is yet another sell-out (check Eddie Murphy in dictionary for definition), so it's better to see him doing his cutesy Euro accent in a playful kids' movie than trying to pass it as actually funny in an "Austin Powers" sequel even worse than the last one.

Oh, did someone say Eddie Murphy? Well, blow me down, he's in here too! And, much like Myers, it's better to have him capitalize on his stereotypical "wacky/loud negro" character in a cartoon (CG animation, whatever) than in "The Haunted House," "Pluto Nash," or "Daddy Day Care." Stay a donkey, Eddie. It's better this way. Axel Foley is truly dead. Maybe Martin Lawrence will catch on and learn from you before he takes his PG-13 Al Jolsen bullshit to "Black Knight 2: Sooo Blacker!"

So, there we have two actors who are well-placed in here, causing actual laughs like they used to in their good ol' days. Cameron Diaz wasn't hired for her amazing comedic talent, but she serves her purpose well again as Princess Fiona, who is now put in the position of deciding whether or not the egocentrically prissy Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) is Shrek after Shrek reportedly takes a potion to make him better looking. J

ohn Cleese and Julie Andrews voice Fiona's royal parents to the right tune, but the real worthy newcomer is Antonio Banderas as Puss n' Boots, a little kitty who happens to be a hired assassin. Just imagine Antonio Banderas as a talking cat, you'll get the joke.

On the whole, while (like the original "Shrek") it could have used a bit less singing, "Shrek 2" fills its shoes worthily and manages to deserve its fat paycheck that has gone into battle with and conquered the overblown likenesses of "Troy" and "Van Helsing." Just goes to show that you don't need name actors and CG effects to make a solid Hollywood flick -- you need name actors, CG effects, and a STORY.

(four bongs)