The Garfield Movie: A Misfire for Old-School Fans
As a huge Garfield fan, I was excited to see the latest adaptation of Jim Davis’s beloved cat on the big screen. Unfortunately, The Garfield Movie falls short of expectations, despite its great animation and heartwarming story about the relationship between parents and their children.
The Garfield Movie poster
The film follows Garfield (Chris Pratt) as he teams up with his favorite tormentee and best friend Odie (Harvey Guillén) on an adventure to help his father Vic (Samuel L. Jackson) from his nemesis Jinx (Hannah Waddingham). The cast is stacked, with Ving Rhames, Janelle James, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, and even Snoop Dogg making appearances.
“I always read the Garfield comics with the voice of someone like Steven Wright or maybe H. John Benjamin in my mind. I wanted to give Chris Pratt a chance because he was actually great in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but in The Garfield Movie, he’s just Star-Lord as a talking cat with his usually witty and charming persona, not necessarily the Garfield I had in mind.”
While the film has some charm, it feels like a misfire for old-school Garfield fans. The humor is modernized, with Garfield having a smartphone and leaving his owner John in credit card debt by ordering lasagna and Italian food countless times. However, the film’s simplicity and focus on young kids may not resonate with fans who grew up with the comics.
Garfield’s love for lasagna
In the end, The Garfield Movie is a fun but flawed adaptation that may entertain kids but will leave parents and old-school fans struggling to stay awake.
