The greatest fairy tale never told.

Starring: (the voice talents of) Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, Vincent Cassel, Peter Dennis, Chris Miller, Cody Cameron

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We can stay up late, swapping manly stories, and in the morning, I'm making waffles!" - Donkey

Why watch this? Just when you think Disney owns everything, Shrek hits the scene and starts a franchise.

Plot Summary: The grumpy ogre Shrek wants his swamp back after the diminutive Lord Farquaad banishes fairytale creatures to it. Shrek, accompanied by a talkative Donkey, strikes a deal with Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower in exchange for his solitude. Their journey to bring Fiona back to Farquaad leads to unexpected adventures and a burgeoning connection between Shrek and the princess.

Dad's Preview: Thanks to Dreamworks Animation, we received this animated treasure. Here, the traditional "villain", a green ogre, becomes the most honorable of heroes. The premise is creative and tons of fun. Though made for kids with many sight-gags based on familiar fairy tales, it also features some mature humor. The talented voice work performed by Myers, Murphy, Diaz and Lithgow make this film easy to sit back and enjoy.

DreamWorks Animation, PDI/Dreamworks; DreamWorks Pictures