Students flocked to the library hill this past Friday to see a pair of smelly, green ogres, a donkey, and a gingerbread man. One of this summer's biggest box-office hits was Shrek 2, hauling in families across the country as well as over $435 million. The animated series stars Mike Myers of the Austin Powers trilogy as the voice of the Shrek, the swamp orge with a heart of gold. The hilarious Carmen Diaz (Something About Mary) and Eddie Murphy (The Nutty Professor) return respectively as Princess Fiona and Donkey. Shrek 2 incorporates both additional fairytale fiction and adult humor that makes the movie side-splitting fun for young and the young at heart.

The second movie follows the trio as they journey to the kingdom of Far Far Away to meet Fiona's parents. Needless to say, the king and queen are not too thrilled to see their little girl has married an ogre whose trusted partner is a donkey. The king subsequently travels to the Poison Apple Tavern and hires a hitman to dispose of Shrek. This hitman turns out to be the fairytale cat, Puss-in-Boots, who is really more of a sweetheart than he is sinister. After a comical battle, Puss ends up joining forces with Shrek and Donkey.

Heartwarming hilarity ensues as Shrek attempts to become the husband of Fiona's dreams, invading Fairy Godmother's factory and stealing the "Happily Ever After" potion. Familiar favorites from the last movie, including the Gingerbread Man, the Three Blind Mice and Pinocchio, are also back to help Shrek get the girl, I mean ogre.

Many A-list stars lend their voices to characters in the film. Antonio Banderas (The Mask of Zorro) provides his sultry Spanish accent for the charming Puss-in-Boots, who steals the show with his adorable puppy-eyed gaze. As for Princess Fiona's parents, Julie Andrews (The Sound of Music,) appropriately gives voice to the queen and John Cleese (Monty Python) turns in a comical performance as the k

ing. Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding) is perfect match to play the fashion-obsessed Prince Charming, who seeks to steal Fiona away from Shrek.

While the film does not make use of these famous faces, their voices help bring the animated characters to life and make memorably endearing. The audience develops a genuine desire to see the characters succeed as the film progresses.

Don't be wary of Shrek 2 just because the movie is a cartoon; the producers made sure to throw in comical treats for the adults alike. This isn't your typical sugary-sweet animated flick. During the big song-and-dance number, Fiona yells for her Fairy Godmother and frolicking furniture to shut up. Furthermore, Shrek isn't your average superher, he's an ogre. Shrek's the antithesis of the gorgeous, clean-cut American hero, which one of the main reasons we love to watch him burp, fart and pull at his wedgies through both his romantic and exploratory misadventures.

The Shrek series continues to poke fun at previous films, such as with Fiona imitating the kung-fu like fighting of The Matrix series and the ogre couple reenacting the infamous upside-down kiss from Spiderman. The kingdom of Far Far Away mocks the Hollywood scene, with carriages that look like limousines and mansions belonging to princesses of the fairytale elite, including Cinderella and Rapunzel. Common restaurants are given new names in the enchanted kingdom, as Big Boy in Far Far Away becomes Friar's Fat Boy. Starbucks is renamed Fairbucks, and when one of the coffee stores is destroyed in a scene in the movie, the people of Far Far Away just run across the street to another one. Like my friend said, anytime the 19 and 20-year-olds are laughing at a cartoon more than the six-year-olds are, you know it's a good movie.

Shrek 2 teaches its audience many important lessons, besides the routine moral that one will always go to any length for true love.

First, fairytales are not just for little kids, but can helps us "mature" college kids get in touch with our fun-loving side. Seeing a cartoon isn't being childish, but a sign of maturity that one is smart enough to recognize a great movie when it comes along. More importantly, the movie shows that if two ogres can try live happily ever after, certainly we can learn to make an adventure out of our romantic trials as well.

So if you're looking for a good, clean family fun or a easy way to reconnect with your younger siblings, then Shrek 2 is the movie for you. All of us, adults and kids alike, can look forward to the next installments in the Shrek series. Who knows, maybe the happily married ogres in the next film will decide to raise children-in the swamp of course!