Shrek Comparison (Chris Farley and Mike Myers)

Fun Fact: Mike almost went with a Canadian accent for Shrek instead of the Scottish one. They recorded the entire film with Shrek having a Canadian accent but last minute he wanted to try a Scottish accent and he re-recorded it willingly without compensation and gave us the Shrek we know and love today.

To be honest both are good but I like mike's scottish accent he chose for shrek

I like the differences. For the, “they judge me before they even know me” line, Chris’ version sounds annoyed and Mike’s sounds disappointed.

In a way, from these little clips Chris’ Shrek feels younger. At least from the dialogue he feels less abrasive and irritated, even if slightly. Chris’ shrek feels like a young adult shrek whose been on his own for a couple years but he’s still figuring his place in the world. He’s a little more open with the dialogue happening a little quicker. Mike in the other hand to me feels like a shrek who was forgotten about. Like donkey showed up way later. Shrek is a man now. He’s been living with this for a very long time, and it’s so deeply jaded and embittered him. The way he sounds, his aggression and slightly more volatile temper (helped with some of the extended dialogue scenes we know from the actual film) feels like he’s someone whose given up on trying to find his place. Idk if this makes sense but this is the vibe I get.

Chris Farley had some acting skills man. You can feel the emotion

Farley shows a big sense of emotions. Mike shows restraint and melocholy

People should also appreciate all the work Eddie Murphy has done in his career. His standup was top tier, his movies were too. But voice acting was always top notch stuff.

It's so eerie to hear how such an iconic voice over could have been so different

Mike Myers: "No, I'm an ogre"
Chris Farley: "NOOOOoOoOO, I'M aN oGRE!!!"

“They judge me before they even know me,” has always been the big line people have inside their heads. Really hits people and follows them home.

Chris really looked like a good cast for Shrek, so sad he passed away. Mike was a perfect replacement, so iconic!

I would never have realized how talented Mike Myers is as a voice actor without Shrek. He’s really got an amazing voice and the inflections he uses are really next level.

The difference between the 'they judge me before they even know me' lines is really interesting to me. Myers' Shrek sounds disappointed and resigned, but Farley sounds annoyed and even slightly baffled. Like it hadn't really sunk in for him yet that everyone has those preconceived notions of ogres and he thought it was still possible for him to fit in, while Myers has given up trying. I love the Shrek we got, but it's fascinating to see what could've been.

You can feel the loneliness in Chris’s voice and delivery but I think mike was the right one for the whole thing

I can't imagine Shrek without Mike Myers, but hearing Farley's delivery always makes me think about what might have been. The role seemed really well suited to him. I've heard stories in interviews about how he was frustrated with being typecast as the "funny fat man fall down" guy, and you can hear some of that come out in the campfire scene. He was way more talented at acting than he let on.

The fact that Chris Farley knew about Shrek before most the population, yet never got to see it finished or really even started is insane*

EDIT    I'm literally only pointing out that Chris Farley being a huge star at the time, and him knowing about Shrek before the rest of the world is cool. THAT IS IT. Y'all need to relax

Chris did good, but I can't help but to feel like Myers was the better fit. We can't really know for sure, since we're comparing the final lines to napkin sketches, but Myers just puts a little more worn down emotion into it. As others have said, the Farley Shrek feels younger, and the Myers Shrek feels like someone alone and forgotten by the world.

"They judge me before they even know me." Hearing Farley say that makes you believe it's him talking to the world through the character. Totally different from Myers but this version would have been a hit too. Poor Chris, he would have loved it.

Eddie Murphy was there in the Chris Era, which is cool.

I don't think Chris was acting; He was genuine.

"Yeah... I know..."