Romeo Drive, Far, Far Away © DreamWorks

Shrek 2, the animated DreamWorks creation voiced by Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Julie Andrews, John Cleese and Antonio Banderas is a box office hit breaking two records this week. The PG-rated film generated gross revenues of $11.8 million on Wednesday, its first day in theaters nationwide. $10.3 million was the previous record for a midweek opening of an animated feature. The film's fairytale response from the market led to an increase in the number of theaters showing the movie from 3,737 theaters initially to 4,163 on Friday. This increase represents a record number of opening theaters, and the first time a film has crossed the 4,000-theater mark. By the end of the weekend, some analysts predict DreamWorks, could be looking at grossing $80 million.

The first Shrek grossed $42.3 million its opening weekend in 2001 and went on to make $267.7 million in the U.S. and almost $500 million worldwide.

Three years ago, Shrek introduced a new genre of film called "fractured fairytales." Other films like Ella Enchanted and Rapunzel have followed with the introduction of characters from a variety of children's fairytales. In Shrek 2 Puss-in-Boots, Pinnochio, the Three Blind Mice, the Three Little Pigs and the Gingerbread Man play a significant role in the film, while Captain Hook, Sleeping Beauty and Tinkerbell make cameo appearances.

The soundtrack includes: Accidentally in Love by the Counting Crows, David Bowie classic, Changes by Butterfly Boucher, Funkytown by Lipps, Inc., and two versions of Holding Out For A Hero by Frou Frou and Jennifer Saunders. The kids thought American Idol Fantasia Barrino's rendition was better. But they thought Eddie Murphy singing Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca would surely give William Hung a little competition.

Some of the other things the movie lampoons: the Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive, Versace, the Red Carpet complete with John Rivers, Mission Impossible, and the Wizard of Oz' field of flowers. Others, more subtle to look for include: Love Potion #9, Sir Justin and The New Porker Magazine.

One of the best lines of the film: "I'm sorry, the position of annoying, talking animal has already been taken." You can guess who said this.

Shrek 2 Filmmakers include:

Academy Award-winning Director/Screenwriter, Andrew Adamson (whose next film will be the live-action depiction of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe based on the classic book by C.S. Lewis)

Academy Award-nominated Director, Kelly Asbury (Spirit)

Director, Conrad Vernon who has been with DreamWorks since 1996

Academy Award-winning Producer, Aron Warner (Shrek, Antz)

Producer, David Lipman (Exec. Producer, Shrek, Actor, The Imposters)

Producer, John H. Williams (Shrek, The Tuxedo, Seven Years in Tibet)

Executive Producer, Jeffrey Katzenberg (a principal partner in DreamWorks SKG which he co-founded with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen in October 1994)

DreamWorks Animation has already announced their intentions to create a Shrek 3 and Shrek 4.

The laughter meter at the San Francisco theater we sat in tonight was at an all-time high. Antonio Banderas as Puss-in-Boots and Eddie Murphy as Donkey get much of the credit for this. As long as they keep these two in character, DreamWorks may be looking at their own "happily ever after."

To see a trailer of the film, go to: Apple.com

For an introduction to the characters and the plot or to buy tickets online, go to: SHREK 2

Welcome to the distant land of Far, Far Away!

Inspire & Be Inspired.

~Jennifer King

P.S. Make sure you stay through the credits. You're sure to get the best chuckle of the night. Go Stud Donkey!