The Garfield Movie

The Garfield Movie, the most recent adaptation of Jim Davis’s legendary feline, is not the most traditional version of this story or characters yet, in many ways, it just feels right. Sure, Garfield does not spend the entire film bullying his household, and he even turns into a bit of an action star at one point, but the real spirit of Garfield is on full display. Chris Pratt is an odd choice for the main character, yet his cheerful, slightly energetic take eventually grabs hold of you. The rest of the cast, however, is spot on, with Samuel L. Jackson and Ving Rhames instantly owning their roles. The West End and Ted Lasso star, Hannah Waddingham, is delicious as a devious feline, joined by fellow Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein.

The story and plot in this are very much linked, and quite simple. Garfield was abandoned in an alley one night, by his father and, sniffing his way to an Italian restaurant, finds John Arbuckle dining alone. John takes him home and after some time passes, Garfield and Odie find themselves at the mercy of two dog kidnappers. They are rescued by a mysterious figure who turns out to be Vic, Garfield’s father, who abandoned him all those years before. Then they all get roped into planning a milk heist for Jinx, a Persian cat that Vic also once abandoned. These scenes serve to establish place, character and mood, and do it quite well. Garfield is a bit more active here, yet he still will not move unless absolutely necessary and, as with any cat, does not want anyone noticing his occasional acts of kindness. Yet, these scenes also serve to establish the rift between Garfield and Vic, voiced by Jackson.

Courtesy Sony

As the film progresses, other characters are introduced, including a disgraced bull (Rhames) who was once a dairy mascot and dreams only of being reunited with his true love, the cow that was the other half of the mascot duo. If there is a weak character in the film, it is John, and that is because he serves no real plot or story function other than giving Garfield a love home and being an ATM for his gluttonous feline’s takeout habits. This comes to its most full realization during the film’s single set piece, a hysterical and very un-Garfield like bit of action. Is it a bridge too far, to stay true to the character?

Maybe, but if the film had simply been more of the same, instead of trying something different, and if Jim Davis had not given his approval to the changes in the film, what then? Would we have been left with animated material closer to the abysmal Bill Murray films? We needed a story that we had not seen before, and trust me, this is a Garfield story you have not seen before. And yes, Garfield is indeed nicer to Odie, but seriously, Garfield was always a bit of a bully to that poor dog, who remains the heart and soul of any Garfield story.

Courtesy Sony

Indeed, one of the best aspects of the film is watching what Odie does, often in the background while Garfield is talking, or eating, or doing both. Here, yes, the two are friends, as always, but Garfield’s trademark sarcasm has been softened. This goes a long way toward explaining how Garfield has any friends, because let us be real, anyone acting like Garfield did in the old stories, in “real” life, would quickly find themselves on the outside looking in. What this does is keep Garfield a fun, friendly, slightly warmer, still hungry and self-serving cat, that perhaps has a spark more interest in the lives of others. In other words, this is Garfield where he isn’t nearly a sociopath.

Did I mention this is fun? Great for the entire family, in the best sense of the term? That it has a pleasing visual style, with some solid guest voices? It has music, but is not a musical. It is gentle yet not cloying. It has a message without being about messaging. This is  The Garfield Movie, a story about a father and son reconnecting, and the meaning of trust and family. It will not win any Oscars but it does not have to. See it and enjoy it for what it is.

GARFIELD is now playing in theaters