Here's how it plays out ironically:
* The setup: The movie begins with Shrek and Fiona returning from their honeymoon, seemingly living their "happily ever after" as expected in a fairy tale.
* The twist: The "happily ever after" turns out to be anything but. Shrek struggles to fit in with Fiona's royal family and the fairy tale world, leading to a series of misadventures and challenges.
* The irony: The very concept of "happily ever after" is subverted. The movie shows that even in a fairy tale, achieving true happiness requires work, compromise, and facing challenges.
This ironic twist on the fairy tale trope is central to the movie's message and humor, demonstrating that even in a world of magic and happily ever afters, life can be messy and unexpected.