GARFIELD the MOVIE

2004, Twentieth Century Fox

Live action

Rating: PG

Approx. 90 mins.

THE STORY:

That '80s cat, Garfield, is back and lazy as ever.  He lives the high life with owner John, pretty much just lounging and eating lasagna, until the day when John brings home Odie the puppy. Garfield is threatened by the new arrival and ends up leading to him running away.

John and his vet/ love interest search for Odie, not knowing that he has been dog-napped by a deranged local TV show host. Even Garfield joins in the search as his conscience gets the better of him. 

In the end, the cat gets the dog and the boy gets the girl and everyone lives happily ever after.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• none

VIOLENCE:

• nothing significant

TEACHING POINTS:

• be yourself and say what you are feeling
• give others a chance
• take responsibility for your actions

THE UPSHOT:

I heard Bill Murray say recently that he did this because it thought it was being made by the Coen brothers instead of by a Cohen. That's one mystery solved. Now I just have to figure out how this ever got made in the first place-- I'm guessing it had something to do with Murray being attached to it. 

It tries to be all things to all people-- a comedy, a romance, an action film, live action, animation, a family movie, an adult-appeal movie. And it succeeds at nothing. The story is ridiculous and predictable, and the whole things just smacks of not enough forethought. I like Bill Murray, but a large part of his appeal relates to his facial expressions, so something gets lost in the animation translation.

It's harmless, but, hey, life's too short. 

1.5/5