‘The Garfield Movie’ Review: A Colorful Adventure with a Bland Aftertaste

Director Mark Dindal, known for The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) and Chicken Little (2005), returns with The Garfield Movie. While the film promises an adventurous mix of humor and heartwarming moments, it feels like a rehash, offering little new.

The film delves into the origins of Garfield, the beloved lasagna-loving cat voiced by Chris Pratt. It showcases Garfield’s early years and his relationship with his owner, Jon Arbuckle, played by Nicholas Hoult. The opening scenes are the highlight of the movie, featuring adorable animations of baby Garfield that captivate with his endearing charm and expressive eyes.

As the story unfolds, the film turns into an adventurous road movie. Garfield joins forces with his estranged biological father, Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), to execute a heist at a dairy farm to settle a debt with the notorious cat boss, Jinx (Hannah Waddingham). While this twist introduces an intriguing dynamic and explores themes of family and reconciliation, the narrative quickly falls into clichés.

Garfield, known for his lazy and sarcastic attitude, is put in a situation that requires teamwork. This leads to some comedic moments, but they often feel outdated and predictable. The humor is reminiscent of classic Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry cartoons—while it may appeal to some, it doesn’t offer anything particularly new.

The story’s predictability and the stale, outdated jokes seldom deliver genuine humor in the film. Even the romantic moments between characters feel uninspired, supported by the usual, clichéd music. The human characters lack depth, while Garfield’s canine companion Odie and other animals they meet on their journey steal the spotlight.

It suffers from a clichéd storyline clearly geared towards a (very) young audience.

In terms of animation, the studio responsible for earlier films such as the Oscar-nominated Netflix animation Nimona and Under the Boardwalk showcases impressive craftsmanship. Visually, the film is striking, but it suffers from a clichéd storyline clearly geared towards a (very) young audience. The plot – embarking on a journey, getting lost, encountering villains, overcoming them, and ending with a happily ever after – feels like a rehash of familiar themes.

The inclusion of Garfield’s father feels contrived and could have been better introduced in a sequel. When revitalizing the Garfield film franchise two decades after the still-superior version with Bill Murray, the creators perhaps should have focused more on letting iconic characters like Odie or Garfield himself take center stage.

The Garfield Movie is clearly aimed at a younger audience, and its jokes will probably amuse children under 12. However, adult Garfield fans should expect a formulaic family film that occasionally elicits a smile but little more. In comparison to the 2004 Garfield film, The Garfield Movie feels like a packaged meal, while the version with Bill Murray remains unparalleled.

The Garfield Movie will be playing in cinemas from May 24.

This article has been written in partnership with The Nerd Shepherd.

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