If you’ve been lucky enough to
have seen Shrek 2 as it does the
record breaking rounds of US cinemas and you come to see it again when it is
released over here on July 2nd you may notice a slight difference in
the casting. If you can call it that and you’re actually that observant.
The clever marketing/production
bods at Dreamworks have come up with a plan to make the film more appealing to
other English speaking countries (including Australia, New Zealand and South
Africa) by redubbing the voices of a couple of the minor characters.
Let’s face
it, these films are always heading over here with their jokes heavily slanted
towards American culture. And why not? They’re made in
America
and
they’re going to get a bigger audience and more money there. So this does seem
to go some way to redressing the balance.
However, some people may think
that this decision is slightly patronising as first up we have the role of ‘Ugly
Sister 2’ originally voiced by Larry King. Who? CNN talk show host who we always
see on those films when someone gets interviewed on TV. The guy with the
glasses. You’d know him if you saw him.
Anyway, Larry King has been
replaced by Jonathon Ross. Although hardly comparable in their CVs but it
probably won’t be seen (or heard, rather) as such a bad thing.
Their second change does seem
rather odd questionable as to where Dreamworks are getting their data as to ‘who
the British public know’. The Red Carpet Reporter was once voiced by Joan
Rivers. Need I go on? Joan Rivers, right? Everyone knows gravely voiced,
sarcastic, caustic, trash-talking Rivers. And they’ve replaced her with Kate
Thornton?! Surely they could’ve either left it with Rivers or found someone
better than Kate ‘Pop Idol’ Thornton who has the unique vocalisations as any
other ordinary person. This is a sad indictment on either how we’ve got no
celebrities of any real clout any more or how the US view our abilities to
recognise cultural references from beyond our own shores. Or maybe it’s a case
of judging others as we judge ourselves.
