Movie Couple Therapy: SHREK

Jono: We have this from romantic comedies. We have this from fairy tales.

We have these ideas of what love is supposed to look like.

This traditionally beautiful princess is falling for this hideous ogre because she sees his heart.

Alan: When it comes to him, he starts Shrek and he ends Shrek

and there is no anything in the middle.

Jono: He knows who he is and Fiona is drawn to that.

And it gives her permission to finally just be her.

And that's why they're great together.

His arc is about how he connects with Donkey and Fiona

and then how he comes to fear losing them.

And ultimately, the message is, in order to find love,

you have to be confident and love yourself.

Jono: The whole reason that Fiona fell in love with him

is because Shrek knew exactly what he was about.

Well, who's into the same weird crap that you're into?

Or at the very least appreciates that you're into that weird crap,

and lets you be you and...

Alan: Lets you revel in your crapulence.

Jono: Hello and welcome to Cinema Therapy.

I'm Jonathan Decker, licensed therapist who loves movies.

Alan: I'm Alan Seawright, a professional filmmaker who needs therapy.

What are you instructing me upon? What?

Alan: What are you teaching me today? Because this... Jono: English.

Jono: It is a language.

Alan: Welcome to English therapy. Jono: Waiting to be discovered.

Me fail English?

That's unpossible.

Jono: We're going to do movie couples therapy for Shrek and Fiona.

Alan: Ok. I love A - movie couples therapy,

and I super love Shrek and Fiona.

Jono: Yeah, well, we're going to do two of these. One for their married life.

But today we're going to focus on healthy dating,

specifically on believing in yourself enough to want someone to want you for you.

Because we so often show up not as us, because we think us isn't going to be accepted.

Alan: Right, yeah. No, this was me...

...ages... 0 through 22. Jono: Yeah.

Jono: Specifically Fiona has this fear of not being accepted for who she is.

And Shrek has accepted that no one's going to accept him for who he is.

So he's just doing his thing and then these crazy kids get together,