Shrek of the new

At 8.30am, hungover critics stumbled into the Cannes Palais to inspect the sequel to Shrek, which created a terrific splash here three years ago, went on to win an Oscar and was a smart, truly innovative example of what animation can achieve.

Shrek 2 reunites the same creative team. It is, again, one of the most exuberantly entertaining movies at the festival. But does it live up to the original? Kick-starting the story from the first film's happily-ever-after, the story sends the green ogre to face his new bride's parents (voiced by John Cleese and Dame Julie Andrews).

They take a dim view of their daughter's choice of mate and plot to fix her up with someone more personable. Enter a not-so-benevolent fairy godmother (Jennifer Saunders) who has turned spells, potions and the pursuit of happiness into a multi-million-dollar global industry.

The new movie doesn't tinker much with the hit formula. The first film had a fairytale sidekick, Vincent Cassel as Robin Hood. This one has Antonio Banderas as a Zorro-like Puss-in-Boots, a swashbuckling ginger giant-killer. Shrek had a magic kingdom with a spooky resemblance to Disneyland. In Shrek 2, the kingdom of Far, Far Away looks like Los Angeles, with stretch stagecoaches, Farbucks coffee franchises and the Versarchery weapons store.

The baddie who previously competed with Shrek for Princess Fiona's hand has been supplanted by a comical Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) gleaming with lip gloss, blond highlights and self-love. There's a blitz of clever parodies of everything from Ghostbusters to From Here To Eternity.

The one thing that's missing is the shock of the new: Shrek 2 has no business in an international festival competition. It lacks Shrek's shock of surprise and delight; even Mike Myers's Scottish accent as Shrek sounds diluted. And meeting the inlaws is perhaps not an adventure with quite the same mythic resonance as an epic journey to slay a dragon (though some might feel it comes pretty close). But Shrek 2 is technically brilliant and bristling with wit and invention. Only the most villainous reviewer could fail to recommend it.