Shrek (1991)

If Shrek was made 10 years earlier.

Directed By: Chris Columbus

Plot
Shrek is an anti-social and highly territorial green ogre who loves the solitude of his swamp. His life is interrupted after the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad of Duloc exiles multiple fairy-tale creatures to Shrek's swamp. Angered by the intrusion, he decides to go see Farquaad and demand they be moved elsewhere. He reluctantly allows the talkative Donkey, who was exiled as well, to tag along and guide him to Duloc.

Meanwhile, Farquaad is presented with Snow White's Magic Mirror, who tells him that in order to truly become a king, he must marry a princess. Farquaad chooses Princess Fiona, who is imprisoned in a castle tower guarded by a female dragon. Unwilling to perform the task himself, he organizes a tournament, in which the winner will receive the "privilege" of rescuing Fiona. Shrek and Donkey arrive during the tournament; disgusted by the sight of the ogre, Farquaad changes his mind and announces that whichever knight kills Shrek will be declared the winner. Shrek and Donkey defeat the knights, and Farquaad proclaims them champions; he negotiates with Shrek to have the fairy-tale creatures relocated if he rescues Fiona.

Shrek and Donkey travel to the castle and are attacked by Dragon, who corners Donkey. In desperation, he sweet-talks her and she falls in love with him. Meanwhile, Shrek locates Fiona, who is appalled at his lack of romanticism. They flee the castle after rescuing Donkey, but when Shrek removes his helmet and reveals that he is an ogre, Fiona refuses to go to Duloc unless Farquaad himself arrives, so Shrek simply carries her against her will. That night, after setting up camp, Fiona goes off alone and Shrek confides with Donkey about his frustration with being feared and rejected by others because of his appearance. Fiona overhears and decides to be kind to Shrek. The next day, they encounter Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men, and Fiona dispatches them easily with martial arts when they attack. Shrek is impressed with Fiona, and they begin to fall in love.

When the trio nears Duloc, Fiona takes shelter in a windmill for the evening. Donkey hears strange noises from within and investigates, discovering that Fiona has transformed into an ogress. She explains she has been cursed since childhood, forced to transform every night after sunset, and only changing back at sunrise. She tells Donkey that only "true love's kiss" will break the spell and change her to "love's true form". Meanwhile, Shrek is about to confess his feelings to Fiona, when he overhears the conversation as she is calling herself an "ugly beast". Believing that Fiona is talking about him, Shrek angrily leaves and returns the next morning with Lord Farquaad. Confused and hurt by Shrek's abrupt hostility towards her, Fiona accepts Farquaad's marriage proposal and requests they be married before nightfall. Shrek abandons Donkey and returns to his now-vacated swamp.

Angered, Donkey arrives at the swamp and confronts a still-upset Shrek. During their quarrel, Donkey explains that the "ugly beast" Fiona was referring to was someone else, and the two reconcile. Donkey urges Shrek to express his feelings for Fiona before she marries, and the two quickly travel to Duloc by riding Dragon, whom Donkey is now in a relationship with.

Shrek interrupts the wedding just before the ceremony completes, and tells Fiona that Farquaad is only marrying her to become king. The sun sets as Fiona transforms into an ogress in front of everyone, causing a surprised Shrek to understand what he overheard. Outraged, Farquaad orders Shrek executed and Fiona detained. Guided by Donkey, Dragon bursts in and devours Farquaad. Shrek and Fiona profess their love and share a kiss. Fiona assumes "love's true form" as the curse predicted, and remains an ogress permanently. No longer believing she is beautiful, Fiona is consoled by Shrek, who tells her she always has been. They get married in the swamp surrounded by other fairy-tale creatures, and leave on their honeymoon.

Voice cast

 * Bill Murray as Shrek
 * Eddie Murphy as Donkey
 * Andie MacDowell as Princess Fiona
 * John Cleese as Lord Farquaad
 * Roberto Benigni as "Monsieur" Robin Hood
 * Martin Short as Gingerbread Man
 * Phil Hartman as:
 * Magic Mirror
 * Geppetto
 * Paul Reubens as Pinocchio
 * Rob Paulsen as The Three Little Pigs
 * Billy West as as Blind Mouse 1
 * Dee Bradley Baker as Blind Mouse 2
 * Maurice LaMarche as Blind Mouse 3
 * Jim Cummings as:
 * Thelonius
 * Captain of the Guards
 * Richard Kiel as Big Bad Wolf
 * Kathleen Freeman as Old Woman (Donkey's ex-owner)
 * Tom Kenny as Duloc Mascot (a man dressed in a suit that looks like Lord Farquaad)
 * Bug Hall as Baby Bear from the Three Bears
 * Corey Burton as Peter Pan

Rating
Rated PG.

Trivia

 * John Candy, Chris Farley, John Goodman and Dan Aykroyd were considered for the role of Shrek/
 * Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Pryor were considered for the role of Donkey.
 * Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston were considered for the role of Fiona.
 * Christopher Walken and Donald Sutherland were considered for the role of Lord Farquaad.