Garfield: The Movie

Release Date: June 11, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG for brief mild language
Directed by: Peter Hewitt
Starring: Bill Murray, Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Debra Messing, Brad Garrett, Alan Cumming, Nick Cannon, Jimmy Kimmel, David Eigenberg, Mo'nique

Plot:
Life couldn't be sweeter for Garfield, everyone's favorite feline. Parked on a comfortable chair in front of the television, feasting on his favorite dish, lasagna, and hurling insults at his beleaguered owner Jon, Garfield is the master of his universe. When Jon takes Garfield to visit beautiful veterinarian Liz Wilson, she gives Jon a pepped-up, tail-wagging, panting creature that represents everything that Garfield loathes. Garfield, meet Odie, a lovable, dim-witted dog. The wise-cracking cat is, for the first time in his nine lives, left speechless. The clueless Odie chases his tail till he's dizzy, crashes into walls, and barks without cause, all to the unbridled delight of Jon who eagerly welcomes Odie into his home. Odie turns Garfield's perfect world upside down. Garfield's solution: OUT, DARN DOG. When the hapless hound disappears into the evil clutches of local celebrity Happy Chapman, you would think Garfield would rejoice. But he feels responsible for t! he fate of another. With uncharacteristic energy, courage and selflessness, Garfield manages to pull himself away from his lazy life and spring into action. He's on the unlikeliest of impossible missions: to save Odie.

Review:
Garfield was a famous cartoon television show. It has been quite a few years since Garfield has graced the television or any screen for that matter and now after time has passed for the character, a film is made. It makes one wonder why it took Hollywood such a long time to make the lazy and sarcastic cat hit the big screen.

I'm not exactly sure what Peter Hewitt was interested in when he decide to give the film a shot at directing. It could perhaps be that he was a fan of the show or the comic strips. Whatever it may be, the direction is not to be praised because there is not many instances to applaud over in a viewing of Garfield. This is because of poor writing.

The script was written by "Toy Story" writer, Joel Cohen, who was once an idea filled man. It could be the fact that Garfield's character can't span far from his laziness and eating habits that this film becomes tedious to some after a while. Much of that matter does occur with Garfield and that is because it repeats itself too often and the story is far from solid.

Having Garfield's owner Jon, who is played by Breckin Meyer buy a dog, a cat's enemy and cherish it more than Garfield is as simple as it gets. Its a poor storyline though, that will really lead to nowhere in the finale. With that said, it can be understandable that its simply suppose to be a fun and mindless film throughout its running time, but when a show becomes a film, it must portray a well though of story.

What Garfield: The Movie does right is that it focuses much on Garfield and portrays him as the lead actor. Everyone can say, well of course they follow his character throughout the film, if it wasn't for him the film would have never been made. That is all true, but sometimes films can differ from its main characters, luckily this film doesn't and keeps it strolling.

Again, the humor from this film hits its marks and there are some laugh out loud moments, but when its not funny, it doesn't move along well as a parody. Garfield likes his lasagna and his television, but there isn't a need for it to be repetitive and will cause for multiple misses in laughs. The flaw happens a few times in which brought the films enjoyment down.

As far as actors and actresses go Jennifer Love Hewitt stars as Liz in the film and does fine with her role. She portrays her character as a romantic, but equally challenged to be a wild woman. She chooses cats over dogs and the attraction between herself and Jon begins at the veterinarian office in which she works in. Jennifer establishes her role and flows with beauty.

The strongest part of Garfield is his voice which was done by Bill Murray. This was a great choice and Murray has that sarcastic sense put together nicely. Even when Garfield is doing nonsense around the house, Murray is constantly talking as Garfield and it can cause headaches, but its at times funny. Garfield surpasses last years Cat In The Hat, but that's probably not saying much.

Garfield: The Movie is a very funny film, but lacks everything else. The plot is stupid, the script is horrendous and there is no one or nothing to cheer for besides Garfield. However, for those who simply want to be entertained, this film might do the trick. The problem is you will feel less intelligent when you come out of the screening than you had before. Garfield is cute and funny, but doesn't have any filmmaking elements at all.