Shrek 2 At Cannes

Our 4 year-old was so excited to hear about Shrek 2 coming out that she burped then turned into an ogre at sundown. The people at Cannes are revved about it too:

The sequel to animated hit Shrek will, like its predecessor, be in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

….Quentin Tarantino will chair the jury at the event, which opens with Pedro Almodovar’s Bad Education on 12 May.

The festival ends on 23 May with the world premiere of Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely, starring Kevin Kline.

In 2001 the original Shrek became the first animated film to compete at Cannes since 1953.

This year, however, it is not the only animated film to make the shortlist as Japanese ‘anime’ Innocence has also been selected.

‘All types of films’

Festival organiser Thierry Frémaux said Shrek 2’s selection, along with that of Joel and Ethan Coen’s The Ladykillers and the Sellers biography, was “an affirmation for comedy”.

“The festival has been spreading the word that it is open to all types of films,” he said.

“With the spotlight on animated features and documentaries, the festival continues preoccupations begun in 2001.”

There are 18 films in competition, including three films from France and, for the first time, one from Thailand. [BBC]

Shrek 2 opens May 21 in the U.S:

In Shrek 2, Shrek and Princess Fiona return from their honeymoon to find an invitation to visit Fiona’s parents, the King and Queen of the Kingdom of Far, Far Away. With Donkey along for the ride, the newlyweds set off. Little did Shrek and Fiona know that their marriage had foiled all of her father’s plans for her future … and his own. Now the King must enlist the help of a powerful Fairy Godmother, the handsome Prince Charming and that famed ogre killer Puss In Boots to put right his version of “happily ever after.”

Shrek 2 brings back the voices of Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey and Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona. Joining the all-star voice cast are: Academy Award winner Julie Andrews (“Mary Poppins”) and Oscar nominee John Cleese (“A Fish Called Wanda”) as Fiona’s royal parents, Queen Lillian and King Harold; Antonio Banderas (“Spy Kids”) as Puss In Boots; Rupert Everett (“My Best Friend’s Wedding”) as Prince Charming; and Jennifer Saunders (“Absolutely Fabulous”) as the Fairy Godmother. The computer-animated comedy is directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon, and produced by Aron Warner, David Lipman and John H. Williams. Jeffrey Katzenberg serves as Executive Producer.

There is a big push behind the movie soundtrack as well:

Who says it isn’t easy being green? The popular ogre is back in Shrek 2, the sequel to the Oscar-winning animated hit, opening in theaters everywhere on May 21st, with an accompanying soundtrack due in stores on May 11th. The Shrek 2 soundtrack, a follow-up to the Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum Shrek soundtrack, features the debut single “Accidentally In Love” by Counting Crows, which impacts radio on May 3rd, while the band is set to perform the song live on “The Late Show with David Letterman” on May 26 and on “The Today Show” summer concert series on May 28th. The original song, “Accidentally In Love” was written specifically for the film’s opening montage when Shrek and Princess Fiona are on their honeymoon!

The Shrek character proved endearing to millions because of his outsider status. Similarly, the first Shrek soundtrack hit big in part because of its adventurous blend of cutting-edge artists. The new CD is no different. Young performers such as the British duo Frou Frou, the eels, London-based singers Butterfly Boucher and Joseph Arthur, stand side-by-side with established stars like David Bowie, Counting Crows, Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Pete Yorn.

The Shrek 2 soundtrack features an eclectic mix of artists and songs, including: Counting Crows with “Accidentally in Love”; Frou Frou, “Holding Out For A Hero”; Butterfly Boucher featuring David Bowie with “Changes”; Lipps, Inc. with the classic “Funkytown”; Dashboard Confessional, “As Lovers Go”; eels, “I Need Some Sleep”; “I’m On My Way” by Rich Price; Pete Yorn, “Ever Fallen in Love”; Tom Waits, “Little Drop of Poison”; Joseph Arthur, “You’re So True”; “People Ain’t No Good” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds; Jennifer Saunders (who plays the Fairy Godmother in the movie) sings two songs, “Holding Out for a Hero” and “Fairy Godmother Song”; and Eddie Murphy & Antonio Banderas (who provide the voices of Donkey and Puss In Boots) sing a duet of Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca.” Chris Douridas served as Music Supervisor on the film.

With the first Shrek soundtrack having sold more than two million copies and the original film an Academy Award winning blockbuster, anticipation is high for the sequel.

The Counting Crows’ very snappy “Accidentally in Love” can be streamed in Windows here and Real here.