The Garfield Movie

Garfield, the greediest and laziest cat in comics, returns to the big screen, twenty years after two film adaptations.

In 1978, Jim Davis drew this cat in reaction to the many dog ​​characters present in comics of the time. Garfield is a human being disguised as a cat. As its creator puts it: “he holds up a mirror to us, with humor. We feel guilty for eating too much, not exercising, and sleeping too much. Garfield, lazy, self-centered, constantly hungry cat, relieves our guilt.”

The transition to the small and big screen requires developing this character, funny, cynical, and lazy, to make him experience adventures. The stories are designed for a family audience, for young children. Fans of the comics will therefore not find the Garfield of the comics. This is another Garfield which was conceived by director Mark Dindal and his screenwriter David Reynolds, with the agreement of Jim Davis. Of course, we find Garfield, who loves lasagna. This glutton devours pizzas in a way that makes the children laugh. But today, Garfield orders them online, via his smartphone. He subscribes to Catflix. At his side, Odie the dog, is part of the adventure, but he is less his punching bag. Jon is faithful to the original character.

The story focuses on family. We thus discover that Garfield is the son of an alley cat, Vic, who may have abandoned him. Taken in by Jon, he spends peaceful days when he and Odie are kidnapped by the evil cat Jinx, and her two sidekicks, the scary dogs Roland and Nolan. He is then forced to commit a robery with his father. The story is well constructed, with rhythm, gags and emotion with the father-son scenes. The film references superhero movies, like Mission Impossible. The sentence “I do my own stunts” could become cult. The animation is simple but consistent with the comics. Baby Garfield is so cute with his big eyes. Comedian Kyan Khojandi, revealed by the tv series “Bref”, is the French voice of Garfield. The music is successful, rhythmic with titles like “I got a good life” by Jon Baptiste, “Let it roll” by Keith Urban and Snoop Dogg.

“The Garfield movie” is a cute animated film, touching in its family story, which will delight little ones. Provide pizzas after the screening.

The Garfield Movie
Directed by Mark Dindal
Written by Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, David Reynolds
Based on Garfield by Jim Davis
Produced by John Cohen, Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Steven P. Wegner, Craig Sost, Namit Malhotra
Starring Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, Bowen Yang
Music by John Debney
Production companies: Columbia Pictures, Alcon Entertainment, Prime Focus, DNEG Animation, One Cool Group Limited, Wayfarer Studios
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date : May 24, 2024 (United States), July 31, 2024 (France)
Running time : 101 minutes

Seen June 26, 2024 at Club Lincoln, french version

Sabine's Mark:

The Garfield Movie aims to reintroduce the world's most famous lazy, lasagne-loving feline to a new generation, but in doing so it stumbles on almost every conceivable level. Directed by Mark Dindal and starring Chris Pratt as Garfield, this latest attempt to bring Jim Davis' iconic comic strip to life is a muddled mix of misplaced action, superficial emotion and overt commercialism that fails to capture the essence of what has made Garfield an enduring character for nearly half a century.

From the outset, it's clear that The Garfield Movie is struggling to find its identity. The film opens with a flashback that gives Garfield a tragic backstory, presenting him as a kitten abandoned by his father, Vic (played by Samuel L. Jackson). This unnecessary narrative shift transforms Garfield's once mild love of lasagne into a traumatic reaction, which doesn't fit with the character's traditional portrayal as a simple, pleasure-hungry gruff. Rather than embracing Garfield's apathy and dry wit, the film chooses to transform him into a generic action hero, with a series of stunts and adventures that seem more suited to a Mission: Impossible movie rather than a Garfield story.

The film attempts to balance its action-rich plot with nods to nostalgia, but these efforts fall flat. References to Tom Cruise and the use of Mission: Impossible and Top Gun imagery might make older viewers chuckle, but they seem oddly out of place in a film ostensibly aimed at children. The inclusion of these elements highlights the film's identity crisis, caught between pleasing long-time comic book fans and appealing to a younger audience unfamiliar with Garfield's origins.

Garfield's transformation from a lazy, sardonic cat into an energetic, action-oriented protagonist is perhaps the film's biggest mistake. Chris Pratt's vocal performance lacks the dry, laconic humor that Bill Murray brought to the character in the live-action films of the early 2000s. Instead, Chris Pratt's Garfield is energetic, almost frenetic at times, which robs the character of his trademark charm. The film version of Garfield resembles a sticker exercise, pandering to contemporary animation trends rather than staying true to the original character. His supposed laziness, the cornerstone of his personality, is overshadowed by the film's relentless pace and action sequences.

The plot, which revolves around Garfield being kidnapped and forced to steal milk from a dairy farm, feels contrived and far removed from the everyday humor that defined the comic strip. The film introduces a host of new characters, including Garfield's estranged father Vic and the evil Persian cat Jinx (played by Hannah Waddingham), but these additions do little to enhance the story. On the contrary, they contribute to an over-complicated narrative that distracts Garfield fans from the simple pleasures they have a right to expect. The heist itself, which should be the climax of the film, lacks originality and fails to generate enthusiasm. The sequence resembles a pale imitation of better films, with uninspired set pieces and a lack of real tension.

The secondary characters also suffer from this lack of attention. Odie, Garfield's faithful canine companion, is little more than a sidekick with minimal personality, a far cry from his role as a foil to Garfield's comic-book shenanigans. The film even makes the disconcerting decision to render Odie mute, thereby removing one of the key elements of his character. Other characters, such as the amorous bull Otto (played by Ving Rhames), feel stuck in the plot, their stories serving more as filler than significant contributions to the narrative.

Visually, The Garfield Movie follows the trend of other recent animated films, with a style that relies heavily on digital animation while trying to emulate the simplicity of the original comic strip. While the film succeeds in capturing some of the visual essence of Garfield, it lacks the charm and warmth that made previous adaptations, such as Garfield and Friends, so beloved. The animation, while polished, feels cold and mechanical, in stark contrast to the hand-drawn style that once brought Garfield to life with such personality.

Another major flaw in the film is its over-reliance on product placement and references to modern technology. Garfield, who once symbolized a kind of timeless, universal humor, is now portrayed as a smartphone-obsessed cat, using apps, ordering food deliveries via drones and referencing streaming services like Catflix. These elements seem like cynical attempts to make Garfield relevant to today's kids, but they feel forced and out of place. The constant barrage of brand names and gadgets only underscores the film's lack of creativity, turning it more into an advertisement than a story.

The film's attempts at humor also fall flat, with many jokes relying on tired pop-cultural references or slapstick gags that seem outdated and uninspired. The script, written by a trio of screenwriters, seems to struggle to strike the right balance between humor and heart. If there are a few moments that recapture Garfield's deadpan wit, they're too few and far between, lost amid a sea of over-the-top action and misplaced sentimentality. Even the film's attempts at emotional depth, such as the tense relationship between Garfield and his father, seem contrived and lack the subtlety needed to resonate with audiences.

The Garfield Movie is a disappointing attempt to bring the beloved character into the modern era. It sacrifices the simplicity and charm of the original comic strip for a bombastic, action-packed plot that feels more like a generic animated film than a real Garfield story. The use of superficial humor, product placement and references to modern technology only serves to alienate long-time fans and new viewers alike, making it clear that this is more a corporate money grab than a sincere adaptation.

For those hoping to recapture the charm of the original Garfield, this film is likely to leave them wanting more. And for the new generation of viewers, The Garfield Movie offers little more than a fleeting, forgettable experience. As a result, the film feels more like a stale snack than a satisfying meal, leaving viewers hungry for something more substantial and tasty.

The Garfield Movie
Directed by Mark Dindal
Written by Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, David Reynolds
Based on Garfield by Jim Davis
Produced by John Cohen, Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Steven P. Wegner, Craig Sost, Namit Malhotra
Starring Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, Bowen Yang
Music: John Debney
Production companies: Columbia Pictures, Alcon Entertainment, Prime Focus, DNEG Animation, One Cool Group Limited, Wayfarer Studios
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date: May 24, 2024 (U.S.), July 31, 2024 (France)
Running time: 101 minutes

Seen on VOD in Los Angeles on July 18, 2024

Mulder's Mark: