When film studios have a film that grosses over $200 million at the box office, the idea of a sequel is strongly considered. When that same film ends up being the third highest grossing film of the year, and its family friendly cutting-edge animation gets rave reviews from children and parents alike, we all knew that “Shrek 2” was inevitable. The only concern is whether the sequel would be as well received and enjoyable as the first, which, more often than not, is not the case when a studio is trying to recapture the popularity of the original. Bottling a magic potion once is difficult. Bottling a magic potion twice with the same ingredients, but making it taste different, is nearly impossible.

Credit Dreamworks Pictures with retaining the original cast of voices and Directors from the original “Shrek,” because they have delivered a stunning achievement by creating two potions that both equally taste great. Honestly, “Shrek 2” is as good, if not better, than the original “Shrek.”

The story for the sequel picks up where the original left off, as we catch up with the newlywed ogres Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) on their honeymoon. When they return home to the swamp, they are greeted with an invitation from Fiona’s parents, the King and Queen of Far, Far Away (John Cleese and Julie Andrews, respectively), to return home so that her parents can give the newlyweds their blessings. As it turns out, the King and Queen were unaware that the plan of having Fiona be rescued from the tower by a certain Prince went awry, and that she chose to remain an Ogre and marry Shrek. This is not the way it was supposed to go, and if the Fairy Godmother has anything to do with it, she’s determined to break up Shrek and Fiona so that Fiona can marry her son, Prince Charming.

Since we have already been introduced to the three main characters in the first film (Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy), there is no need for reintroductions and moves quickly into the fun. In fact, the three main characters share equal footing with many new ones. With the addition of new characters and voice talent, including Antonio Banderas as the voice of Puss-in-Boots, Jennifer Saunders (probably best known for her role as Eddy on the television series “Absolutely Fabulous”) as a saucy Fairy Godmother, and John Cleese as Fiona’s father, King Harold, the film rides high on the humor brought to these roles by the actors portraying their voices. As Puss-in-Boots, Banderas’ lines are ripe with passion and humor with the perfect Latin flair as he parodies his own “Zorro” persona, with the addition of hairballs and a fair amount of purring.

The story is inherently funny, and much like the first film did in sending up the Kingdom of Dulac as a parody of a certain theme park in Orlando, the setting for the second film is in the Kingdom of Far, Far Away, recreating the Los Angeles/Hollywood scene. With “Farbucks” Coffee shops on (literally) every corner and Red Carpet arrivals to the Royal Ball being dissected by Joan Rivers, the humor is rife with iconic images and references for kids and parents both to pick up on. The subtleties are there for the parents to catch along with straightforward punch lines for the kids, and the writing is so sharp and on the mark equating to one of the funniest, laugh-out-loud movies of the year.

“Shrek 2” does not miss a beat, from the opening sequence loaded with nods to “Spider-Man,” “From Here to Eternity,” and “Lord of the Rings,” all the way to the rock-and-rolling final scene. Beneath it all pulses a heart of gold, and the film’s moral-of-the-story shines through that even the youngest of viewers will pick up on it: people will love you for who you are, not for what you think they want you to be. Much like the first film, “Be Yourself” is the key ingredient to this second potion, and although it’s a rather simple ingredient, it’s also a very powerful one. Kids and adults will enjoy the magical “Shrek 2,” and anything that can make you leave the theater with a good feeling in your heart and your belly is a magical potion indeed.