Garfield is recognized as the most iconic cat figure in modern-era popular culture, created by Jim Davis. This orange cat has been around since the late 1970s, and its illustrations have adorned newspapers in the US. Several television series and feature films have been produced, not to mention a wide range of merchandise like toys, dolls, and video games. Following the success of old toy icons in the film medium, such as Mario Bros. and Barbie, Garfield has been brought back to the big screen as a 3D animated film.
Mark Dindal directed the new Garfield movie. Dindal is a senior filmmaker who previously worked on several Disney animations, including “The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000) and “Chicken Little” (2005). Several big stars, such as Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, and Snoop Dogg, voiced the film. Can this animated film, with a budget of USD 60 million, compete with similar popular movies produced by much more established rival studios?
Garfield (Pratt) is a house cat who lives peacefully with his owner, Jon (Hoult). His days are accompanied by his loyal friend, a dog named Odie. One day, Garfield and Odie are kidnapped by two wild dogs, Rolan and Nolan, who are the minions of the evil female cat, Jinxs (Waddingham). Jinxs seeks revenge against Vic (Jackson), Garfield’s biological father, who abandoned her. She offers to forgive Vic if Garfield and Odie can steal a truck loaded with milk from the Lactose farm. Thus, the adventure begins.
When compared to other animated film series such as “The Secret Life of Pets” or “Bolt,” which also revolve around the lives of pets, “Garfield” falls short. The film’s biggest problem is its flat and sometimes absurd sense of humor. While the story is simple and clear, centering on themes of family and friendship like most animated films, the comedy is excessive, making it difficult to empathize with the protagonist. Instead of connecting with Garfield and the other characters, the audience is more aware of the stars providing their voices. Garfield’s character seems overshadowed by Chris Pratt’s strong vocal presence. None of the characters have the distinct charm of, say, Snowball the rabbit from “The Secret Life of Pets.” Even Samuel L. Jackson, typically known for his fierce and often cursing persona, appears softer as Vic.
“The Garfield Movie” suffers in comparison to other animated films that excel in many areas beyond the popularity of the legendary cat. While its visual appearance and technical achievements are good, it clearly falls short of competitors, especially those from Pixar and DreamWorks Animation. This is despite the involvement of DNEG, an animation studio known for its visual effects in giant franchises like “Harry Potter,” “Fast & Furious,” the MCU, and the DCEU. However, one memorable segment involves Garfield’s antics in a train carriage, which was entertaining and elicited laughter from many viewers. Overall, as a cinematic spectacle, this film is more appropriate for children than adults. As for passionate fans of Garfield, their reception may vary, but as a non-fan, my impression remains lukewarm.