Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
But that isn't to say people won't argue against those opinions like they've taken another full-time job.
So when film critic Scott Tobias of The Guardian shared his criticism of Shrek, and on its 20th Anniversary no less, ogre fans were ready for him.
The article dropped on Tuesday this week and was full of punches against the quirky film.
Tobias wrote:
"The fairytale comedy was a hit with critics and audiences but its toilet humor, glibness, and shoddy animation mark it out as a misfire."
He felt the film contributed nothing positive to the world of animation.
"Twenty years later, that flushing sound (at the beginning of the film) seems to signify the moment when blockbuster animation circled the drain."
"Shrek is a terrible movie. It's not funny. It looks awful."
"It would influence many unfunny, awful-looking computer-animated comedies that copied its formula of glib self-reference and sickly sweet sentimentality."
"Three of those terrible movies were sequels to Shrek and one was a spin-off with a sequel in the works. The curse has eased but not lifted."
To his mind, it didn't do anyone any favors, period.
"In the end, Shrek didn't save DreamWorks from setting itself off a few years later."
"It didn't extend [Mike] Myers's career past a hard expiration date. And Katzenberg went on to found Quibi."
"The entire enterprise is better left in the past."
Tobias was so proud of his critique, he even boasted about it on Twitter.
But fans of Shrek and those excited for the 20th Anniversary weren't about to take this sitting down.
Some couldn't believe anyone would even write such a critique.
Do you think someone just wrote this to get a reaction out of people?
— JollyRogersUK (@JollyRogUK) May 18, 2021
I have met and worked with multiple people from different countries, and everyo single person says Shrek was amazing. It is legit UNIVERSALLY awesome!! What bottom feeding mutant says it's "Overrated"??? pic.twitter.com/KWpNJsAyzq
— Nenai Streams (@NenaiStreams) May 18, 2021
I'm all for opinions but that's objectively wrong.
— 🏳️🌈Benjamin Scott Walton🏳️🌈#Blacklivesmatter (@Bennythebenny) May 18, 2021
Others were really miffed with specific aspects of the review.
They had their rebuttals ready.
'Unfunny' - my child, now 21, still loves it & knew the entire dialogue.
I love it, too. How could anyone not think it was funny?#Shrek
— DemocratiChique (@DemocratChique) May 18, 2021
Some were simply offended or felt they had been betrayed.
Obviously someone who didn't have a happy childhood
— GeHeCal (@GeHeCal1) May 18, 2021
But... there were those small few who understood where Tobias was coming from.
The old saying goes, "You can't make everyone happy," and that strands true, whether it's for a much-loved animated film like Shrek or for a critique of the film by Scott Tobias.
There are going to be avid fans and lackluster never-watched-its, as well as those who wildly disagree or quietly nod their heads.
