Five star

MAKERS of children's movies today have finally come to terms with one vital fact - that adults (parents, big brothers, babysitters etc) have to sit through them too.

So having cottoned onto this fact, they are aiming many of the jokes at people who are aged over 18 as well as those who are aged eight.

Which is why this film is an absolute joy to sit through.

It not only has the immense vocal talents of the likes of Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers and John Lithgow, it has state-of-the-art computer animation which is startingly realistic.

The plot revolves around Shrek (Myers), a 'big, ugly, green' ogre who is quite content to live in his swamp and eat weedrat stew.

Until his peace and quiet is rudely interrupted by donkey (Murphy) and they both inadvertantly end up on a quest to save Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) so she can marry the scheming Lord Farquaad (brilliantly voiced by Lithgow).

But things are not as fairytale-esque as they would seem and the journey back to Farquaad's kingdom turns out to be wonderfully eventful.

This is an absolute must for the whole family this Christmas.

SC