MOVIES: Shrek 2 [YES] Matchstick Men [YES]

Is there a critic anywhere in North America who's panned Shrek 2? If so, off with his or her head.

Being a grumpy old man who's oft-mistaken for an ogre, I'm tough to make laugh at the movie theatre. I've watched whole Jim Carrey movies without much more than a yawn. I actually laughed out loud three times at Shrek 2, a much better movie than its predecessor. It's better for adults AND children and the animation is jaw-dropping great! Amongst my laughs was a moment all dog lovers will hate to admit THEY laughed at too. I hate cats and love mutts, but seeing the little white shammy of a dog seeing Shrek coming its way ...

It's a five-star movie, as good as last year's treasure mine of enjoyment, Finding Nemo. Better I think.

Still, such saccharine does really require an antidote once you get home. Such a movie is Matchstick Men from last year that starred Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman, Bruce Altman, Bruce McGill and Sheila Kelley.

It came out around the same time as Lost in Translation, which kept getting deserved accolades the rest of the year. But for me, Matchstick Men was a better movie. It's a con man come-uppance movie which features a VERY strong perfomance from 23 year-old Lohman, playing the part of Cage's daughter. When it comes time for her final scenes, I guarantee you will really think she's got a future in show biz. Cage's tic-affected Roy is annoying to begin with but grows on you by the end. And by then, you feel a LOT of sympathy and maybe even some fondness for a man who's ongoing business is separating people from their hard-earned loot.

The last reel takes you to places you have to be a cynic in the extreme to think you were going. The last shot is predictable, but up until then, it's a great ride.