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Nevertheless, Metaxas claims that Shrek is "disturbingly inappropriate for children." The normal adult humor in Shrek is typical of all the best cartoons through the last four decades. Eric, are you one of those blighted souls who think there is nothing funny about sex? Like the political/social commentary and humor of, say, Rocky and Bullwinkle (more of our faves), the psychological/sexual commentary and humor of Shrek flow over the heads of the children in the audience. Also, Robin Hood is not oversexed, he is just cheerful and mildly randy. His sex drive appears to be markedly less than my oun husband's, but excuse me—I see that I have strayed unwittingly on to that offensive topic: cheerful sexuality appreciation.

And then there is Mr. Metaxas's "worst example," his "most ugly moment"—when the robin explodes while reaching for the high note, and Fiona, instead of trying to sit on the eggs herself, thoughtfully fries them up for Shrek and the donkey in an attempt to atone for her former selfish ways. God forgive us! My own family had eggs this morning. What are you E.M., a vegan?

But let's settle down to the serious and tragic paucity of Mr. Metaxas's position: Fiona and Shrek are not "ugly" by any but the shallowest standards of Disney and Playboy. Fiona and Shrek as ogres are merely homely in a cute sort of way, a condition that God in his wisdom has chosen to bestow liberally upon the human family since our beginning. And how heartbreaking that Mr. Metaxas can actually claim in all seriousness that "neither she [Fiona] nor Shrek is transformed." Both Shrek (formerly a gloomy, lonely, self-hater) and Fiona (formerly a bratty, self-centered, dominatrix) are sweetly and beautifully transformed by humility and love. 'Tis not the gospel truth we find in fairy tales, O Eric Metaxas. The gospel truth is that our blessed saviour Jesus Christ died once for all, and even the "grotesque" and "ogres" are beautiful and beloved in his sight and their sins are covered by his precious blood if they will but call on his Name. Magical (and easy) solutions plus riches (another fairy tale staple) are not the answer to life's ills. It is the love of God and death to self (e.g., Fiona turning her back on fantastic beauty for the love of a good man) that leads to life.
Cheri Davis
Camilla, Georgia

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Metaxas's review, "Happily Ever Ogre," appears on the Books & Culture site, as does Otto Selles's article on VeggieTales.

Film Forum, Christianity Today's weekly roundup of film criticism, noted what Christian and secular critics said about the film, and both critics' and readers' response to Metaxas's review.

RottenTomatoes.com also compiles reviews of the film.

The official Shrek site has the film trailer, games, images, and other goodies.

Books & Culture Corner appears Mondays at ChristianityToday.com. Earlier Books & Culture Corners include:

Debutante Fiction | The New Yorker should have paid less attention to the novelty of its writers and more attention to their writing. (June 18, 2001)

Saint Teddy? | Yes, Roosevelt paid the usual presidential respects to Christianity, but didn't show much explicit personal devotion to it. (June 11, 2001)

History Bully | Christian scholars speak not-so-softly over a big sticking point: Theodore Roosevelt's faith. (june 4, 2001)

'Taken Up in Glory' | The Ascension has been forgotten in many Protestant churches, jettisoning an essential part of the Christian story. (May 21, 2001)

Who Won? Who Cares? | Skip the latest ballot reviews and read Italo Calvino's brilliant election novella "The Watcher." (May 14, 2001)

Infamy Indeed | John Gregory Dunne suggests imperialistic Americans got what they deserved at Pearl Harbor. (May 7, 2001)

Rantings of a Not-So-Primly Dressed Person With Too Much Time | The Chronicle of Higher Education infuses some not-so-subtle bigotry into its fetal-tissue research coverage. (Apr. 30, 2001)

Big Numbers, Big Problems | Christianity is in the midst of a massive global shift. But how much of a difference is it making in its new homelands? (Apr. 16, 2001)

DiIulio Keeps Explaining, But Is Anyone Listening? | At a media luncheon in Washington about Bush's faith-based initiatives, answered questions get asked one more time. (Apr. 9, 2001)

Public-izing Faith | Recent articles in Touchstone, Commonweal, and The New York Times serve as reminders that faith is not merely "a private thing." (Apr. 2, 2001)

How Can I Keep From Singing? | Arne Bergstrom has looked suffering square in the eye all over the world. Now he sings about hope. (Mar. 26, 2001)

To Poland, for an Evening | Once in a great while, a film like Kieslowski's The Decalogue discovers how to transport an audience. (Mar. 19, 2001)

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July (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45