One of the things that's so great about the Shrek concept - and there are many - is that the hero and heroine are both ugly. Typically in romances of this sort the aesthetically challenged male eventually manages to persuade the gorgeous, but unobtainable, object of his desire that real beauty lies within. Think large conked Steve Martin pining for Daryl Hannah in Roxanne, Dudley Moore slobbering over Bo Derek in 10, every Woody Allen film going.

Thankfully there’s no such testosterone fuelled fantasy in Shrek. Ogre seeks similar and that’s exactly what he gets.

Returning from their honeymoon Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) receive an invitation from Fiona's parents, King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lilian (Julie Andrews), to meet their new son-in-law. The kingdom of Far, Far Away doubles up as a medieval Beverley Hills with the animators having a huge laugh at Hollywood's expense.

Rapunzel and Cinderella's mansions are hidden behind high security gates; extravagant shopping can be done at ‘Versarchery’ and ‘Tower of London Records’; and Fiona and Shrek's wedding ball is reminiscent of Oscars night with a Joan Rivers clone commentating. There are oodles of piss takes that will bypass the kids but delight the adults.

The King and Queen hadn't bargained on Fiona's Prince Charming being of the swamp variety and is even more disturbed at the physical transformation of their daughter. Suffice to say that the King is far from taken with the new addition to the family and Shrek, full of stubborn uncouthness, does nothing to ease the tension.

Enter the Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) like a movie agent flanked by two knuckle crunching bruisers wielding spells and hexes that will turn Fiona back into a beauty whether she likes it or not. Before she knows it Fiona is a gulp of a potion away from falling in love with the intended Prince Charming (a pouting and blow-dried Rupert Everett), the Fairy Godmother’s son.

Shrek 2’s animation is fluid and sophisticated and the humour is exquisitely clever and contemporary. Fairy-tale bashing continues and the old favourites from the first film - the Gingerbread Man, 3 Blind Mice and Pinocchio (secretly wearing women's underwear) - are back.

But the real show stealer is Antonio Banderas, spoofing his role in Zorro to hilarious effect, as an ogre assassin Puss-in-Boots who quickly becomes Shrek's new partner in crime, much to the irritation and jealousy of Eddie Murphy's Donkey.

Shrek 2 is a superb sequel and two more are in the pipeline. Repeated viewing is heavily recommended.

Shrek 2 is released nationwide on the 2 July 2004

Fancy joining in the fun of the first film? Then why not buy the DVD of Shrek online and save some money! Always a great idea.