Shrek, a DreamWorks animated film set in 2001, received $484 million worldwide and was the first-ever Oscar winner for animated feature in the Puss In Boots franchise. Everything was successful, from the plot, to the soundtrack, and the voice work, especially the pairing of Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy as Shrek and Donkey.
Chris Farley Was At the Height of His Career
Chris Farley, another SNL veteran, is well-known for his popular skit comedy show, Tommy Boy, in which he was quickly recognized. Prior to his death in December 1997, Farley was cast as Shrek.
Along Came Mike Myers
Mike Myers' role as Shrek was part of a long-running series of successes. Perhaps because audiences already understood and loved the Scottish accent in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Farley's Take on Shrek
Chris Farley's portrayal of Shrek appeared to be the opposite of Myers'. We would have gotten an ogre who was more innocent and vulnerable. We would have gotten a Shrek who was more like Chris Farley in person, on Saturday Night Live and in the movies. This is why we loved him. Off-screen, he could be like that as well, most likely because he was insecure and wanted people to like him.
Friends and family have described Chris Farley as a lonely, self-conscious guy who didnt believe he was worthy or attractive enough for love. He was also a deeply religious man, a devotee Catholic who made sure to go to mass every week, no matter what. A friend made sure to place rosary beads in Chris' hand because he knew how much his faith meant to him. In 2015, Chris' brother told Yahoo! Entertainment that he thought the Shrek character was a humble, innocent
What Could Have Been
Kevin Farley's Youtube video of him as Shrek is easy to detect. He wasn't the flamboyant slapstick comedian we knew and loved so much. He's just Farley speaking in his natural voice, yet shy and vulnerable.
Farleys Shrek isn't a funny character, but the loud moments are there. There's chemistry in the give and take between him and Eddie Murphys Donkey, but I want a home and someone to share it with, right? It's heartbreaking because we can feel the character, even though there's no video but just a voice.
Mike Myers' view of Shrek is stunning. There is no denying that. Chris Farley's, as something completely different, might have been too. Myers treated Shrek as a cartoon. He was one. Ironically, Farley, who is well-known for being a cartoonist in real life, made his Shrek more real and somber.