‘The Garfield Movie’ Review – Pawsitively Overstuffed

Synopsis: Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.

Without prior knowledge or extensive preparation, it’s rare to execute difficult tasks on the first try perfectly. Luckily there are second chances. Unfortunately, getting a second chance is never guaranteed, so if you get one, take it seriously and learn from your mistakes. That’s especially important when dealing with interpersonal relationships. Trust and emotions are not something people enjoy being mishandled. If they extend their hand and welcome you back, know it’s probationary and with added limitations. You’ll have to work twice as hard to regain their respect, ensuring you’re worthy of their time and energy. Ultimately, it may not work. Nevertheless, take accountability, make amends, and prepare for potential disappointment because it may be too late, but at least you tried.

“Wait here Jr., I’ll be right back.”

A lot has changed since Garfield’s first comic strip, but one thing remains true, we still hate Mondays. Directed by Mark Dindal, The Garfield Movie is pawsitively overstuffed. With the last Garfield film releasing over a decade ago, I guess it was time to start from scratch. This movie attempts to serve two purposes, it’s a reintroduction to lovers of the comic strip and cartoon and an invitation to new fans to hop on the fat cat bandwagon. Unfortunately, it did a little too much too soon. Adding a franchise-altering character such as Vic, Garfield’s long-lost father is not an issue, however, the execution is. Speeding through the lasagna-loving cat’s early life and placing us within a pointless heist and subplots instead of earnestly building the relationship was a mistake. It begs the question, why is there so much going on and who is the movie this for?

Audience members who grew up with the classic Jim Davis animated series will find themselves watching an imperfect clone of what they remember. Those new to the franchise may enjoy what unfolds but question everything they’ve been told about the orange tabby. Where’s the lethargy, the wisecracks, what happened to all the constant eating? Oh, and why do we rarely get to see Jon? Furthermore, Garfield is more physical than ever before. I bet you didn’t have Garfield being a Tom Cruise-style adventure on your 2024 bingo card. That reference will make more sense if you are willing to put yourself through this unimaginative 15 minutes too long cat-astrophe. And don’t get me started on the annoyingly lazy phone plot device.

“Cheese is my love language.”

Despite there seemingly being too many cooks in the kitchen resulting in a disjointed story and flow, there are some positive takeaways. The first fifteen to twenty minutes are hilarious, heartwarming, and immediately traumatizing. There are some nice jokes sprinkled throughout along with some decent new characters. The animation may not be groundbreaking but it is executed without flaw. The father-son dynamic at the heart of it all is worth revisiting in a later film if that is the main focus. I should also mention that the kids in my screening mostly enjoyed themselves. Adults will not have as much fun.

Nonetheless, its themes of family, trust, and second chances are easily digestible for children of any age. Moreover, some aspects may even be relatable. And if nothing else, pay attention to Odie when you find yourself getting bored. He is the unsung hero and the best part of the movie. You can see The Garfield Movie if you want, but there are better ways to spend your money at the theater. Its rewatchability is low. Would the real Garfield please stand up?

Pace & Pop

Surprisingly, the pace of the movie is slower than it should be. Instead of a rowdy and goofy lasagna train, the story comes to a halt many times. Those slower moments are not only momentum killers but are snooze-worthy. What popped for me was Odie. He is easily the most entertaining part of the movie.

Characters & Chemistry

Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, Bowen Yang, Snoop Dogg

The voice performances are solid but nothing exceptionally mindblowing. Chris Pratt’s Garfield while initially great, eventually just becomes Chris Pratt. Samuel L. Jackson’s performance was playful and jittery. Hannah Waddingham had the best performance as Jinx. She was able to be extremely expressive and over-the-top. While Snoop Dogg was vastly underutilized as the most audibly recognizable voice, Ving Rhames’ smooth deep voice was used too much. Rhames was great, but his voice paired with the pace was like hearing a bedtime story. Honestly, this may be one they all want to forget.

The Garfield Movie releases in theaters on May 24, 2024. Stay safe and eat all the lasagna.

Rated: PG Runtime: 1h 41m Director: Mark Dindal Screenplay: Paul A. Kaplan & Mark Torgove and David Reynolds Producers: John Cohen, Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove, Steven P. Wegner, Craig Sost, Namit Malhotra Executive Producers: Jim Davis, Bridget McMeel, David Reynolds, Scott Parish, Carl Rogers, Tom Jacomb, Crosby Clyse, Chris Pflug, Simon Hedges, Louis Koo, Steve Sarowitz, Justin Baldoni