The Garfield Movie Review: Chris Pratt's Animated Film is Occasional Fun but Falls Largely Short of Purrfection (LatestLY Exclusive)

The Garfield Movie Review: Will Chris Pratt have better luck than Bill Murray when it comes to voicing the lasagna-loving, Monday-hating orange tabby? The answer is yes. Is The Garfield Movie better than the 2004 live-action film? The answer is yes. Is The Garfield Movie a 'good' movie? The answer is... not a resounding yes. As a film primarily targeted at children, The Garfield Movie does its job well enough to keep its young audience entertained. However, with a feeble plot involving a heist, hit-and-miss humour, and a clichéd estranged father-son storyline, The Garfield Movie feels like a first draft written by AI, after someone inputted it to write a script about a lazy cat getting kidnapped and entangled in a milk-stealing plot. Fight Breaks Out Between Moviegoers at Garfield Premiere in Leon, Spain Over Disruptive Behaviour, Video Goes Viral - WATCH.

The Garfield Movie begins with a warm scene showing how the abandoned kitty ended up being Jon's pet, a moment highlighted in the trailers. Moving ahead, Garfield (Chris Pratt) has taken complete control of Jon's house, including his credit cards, and even finds a subservient sidekick in Jon's other pet, Odie.

Watch the Trailer of The Garfield Movie:

Life was going well for Garfield and Odie until they are kidnapped by Jinx (Hannah Waddingham), a TikTok-obsessed cat, and her two acolytes, Roland (Brett Goldstein) and Nolan (Bowen Yang). The reason for this kidnapping is tied to Garfield's previously absent father, Vic (Samuel L Jackson). What Jinx wants from Vic, Garfield, and Odie forms the rest of the plot.

The Garfield Movie works best in the initial portions when it sets up the cat's life at Jon's and recreates the dynamics seen in the comic strips. The bossy antics of the cat and his faithful, often scene-stealing, canine buddy are pleasant to watch. However, when the film shifts gears into heist territory and adds an absent father plotline, it loses the essence of what made Garfield tick. Soon we are no longer watching a lazy, lethargic, and spoilt cat but someone with enough flexibility to rival Iko Uwais. Even Jon (Nicholas Hoult) is reduced to what is essentially an extended cameo. Varun Sharma Lends His Voice to Garfield in Hindi Version.

To give credit where it's due, The Garfield Movie features a bright, nearly orange visual palette that pays homage to the comic strips, and the animation is appealing. Pratt isn't bad at voicing the titular cat, and the rest of the cast performs well. The film evokes memories of the slapstick humour seen in old cartoon shows like Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, and Disney cartoons. Watching the orange cat being slingshot and bounced in all directions while trying to board a train is admittedly fun, and The Garfield Movie has quite a few scenes that will appeal to both kids and adults (the infiltration inside the milk factory is another highlight). Otherwise, the movie isn't as funny as it thinks it is.

Most of the film's humour comes from stating the obvious. For example, the climax features Garfield attempting a daring rescue to the score of the Top Gun anthem. He then breaks the fourth wall (a frequent move to stay true to the comic strip) and says he loves doing his own stunts, adding that Tom Cruise does the same. As if the background score and the 'stunt' comment weren't enough for us to draw the parallels. It's like the movie's attempt to dumb down the already simplistic humour for everyone to understand.

The villains, Jinx and Marge (Cecily Strong), an Animal Control officer, are annoying and boring, adding tedium to an already predictable storyline. The same goes for the Vic-Garfield track, which has some emotional resonance but is a trope we've seen in countless films.

PS: Genuine question - what's the work Jon Arbuckle does to find money to foot the expenses of his extravagance-loving cat? I want that job too!

Final Thoughts on The Garfield Movie

While The Garfield Movie offers a visually appealing and is occasionally funny, it ultimately falls short due to its predictable plot and lacklustre humour. Chris Pratt's performance and the nostalgic nods to the original comic strip are commendable, but the film's reliance on clichéd storylines and simplistic jokes prevent it from being truly memorable. Young fans of the lazy, Monday-hating tabby might find some enjoyment, but the movie struggles to capture the mischievous charm and wit that made Garfield a beloved character.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 17, 2024 11:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).