After 18 years, our favourite lasagna-loving, Monday-hating feline is finally back on the big screen. Yes, Garfield, the world-famous orange tabby who started as a comic strip in 1976, is making a grand return in a reboot, complete with a star-studded voice cast. Expectations are high for ‘The Garfield Movie’ and many hope it will be a box-office hit despite the mixed reviews its predecessors received.
The film starts strong, reintroducing us to Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), who is still the lazy, food-obsessed cat we know and love. He’s treated like royalty by his owner Jon (Nicholas Hoult) and enjoys the company of his best friend, the yellow beagle Odie (Harvey Guillén).
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The film charmingly explores Garfield’s backstory, showing how he ended up with Jon. In a particularly touching scene, a young Garfield floats down a river of his tears atop a lasagna takeaway box, capturing the heart of his new owner.
However, the plot thickens with the arrival of Garfield’s estranged father, Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson), bringing a load of trouble along. This is where the film starts to falter. Once Garfield and his friends leave the comfort of home for an adventure, the storyline takes a predictable and somewhat tedious turn.
Despite the talented voice work from the likes of Hannah Waddingham, who voices a villainous Persian cat named Jinx, the heist angle fails to impress. It feels like a rehash of last year’s ‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’ and the main antagonist seems to borrow heavily from characters like Captain Chantel DuBois from ‘Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.’
The film does have its moments, including some funny segments and a cute subplot involving a love story between Otto the Bull and Ethel the Cow. But these highlights are overshadowed by excessive product placements. From Sony headphones and Walmart to FedEx and Olive Garden, the film is littered with blatant advertising. Even dating apps get a mention, making it clear that the movie is more focused on sponsorships than storytelling.
Visually, the animation is bright and colourful, likely to appeal to younger viewers. However, it doesn’t push any boundaries. The humour and scenarios seem more geared towards keeping kids entertained, which might not resonate with older fans hoping for a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Chris Pratt’s voice acting is decent, though it mainly relies on the character’s established traits. His performance as Garfield is certainly better than his Mario in ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie.’ Samuel L. Jackson, despite his talent, is let down by weak content, and even cameos like Snoop Dogg’s feel wasted.
‘The Garfield Movie’ could have been a delightful, straightforward return to form for the beloved character. Instead, it’s bogged down by unnecessary subplots and commercialism. While it has its fun moments, the film ultimately leaves you wishing it had stuck to what Garfield does best: being simple, lazy and utterly charming.