The Garfield Movie is a really cute movie that is definitely more of a kids movie than a family movie. Fun, heartwarming story with a great villain.
Everyone loves Garfield — what is not to love about him? He hates Mondays, he loves lasagna and other carbs, and he is sassy when you need him to be. As much as he picks on Odie, he is loyal to him in the end. And while he uses Jon’s money to fund his obsession with Italian food, he truly cares about him when all is said and done.
The Garfield Movie (2024) forces him to join forces with his father Vic (Samuel L. Jackson) who abandoned him. Jinx (Hannah Waddingham) was wronged by Vic and wants to get even, ordering Garfield (Chris Pratt), Odie (Harvey Guillén), and Vic to steal a milk truck. Her two brutes (Brett Goldstein and Bown Yang) are sent to keep an eye on them and make sure they do as they are told.
What follows is quite the adventure, but also an emotional tale where father and son reconnect.
Tells Garfield’s Backstory
The Garfield Movie starts off telling the story of how Garfield and Jon found each other. The kitten was left alone in an alley by his father, and a young and hungry Garfield (no surprise there) found his way to Jon in an Italian restaurant. Of course, this comes back into play later in the film.
The Animation Is Gorgeous
One of the best things about this film is the animation. It is gorgeous. The fur for all the animals is done extremely well, especially when it moves during the action sequences. There is even a fun moment, when heist plans are being made, that they switch up the animation style.
Silly, Fun, & Emotional – But Not Perfect
The Garfield Movie is cute and fun, but it is also silly. The humor is dumbed down but that won’t stop children from cracking up in the theaters. The villain, Jinx, can be intense but she is never too scary for younger ones.
That being said, there are some emotional moments as well. Of course these occur between Garfield and his father. In my screening, a few kids were shedding tears, but not uncontrollably.
When it comes to the heist stuff itself, it feels unnecessary. There is a side story involving a bull and a cow that while cute, takes away from Garfield’s story with his father. It adds a few laughs but doesn’t ever fully fit in.
One of the best things about Garfield is his relationship with Jon, and unfortunately Jon is very underutilized in this film. He only shows up every now and then. Jon is Garfield’s surrogate father so we can understand why he was pushed to the side to make room for Vic, but his absence is felt.
More Kid’s Movie Than Family Movie
There is a difference between kids movies and family movies, and The Garfield Movie is definitely a kid’s movie. Older children and parents might find it a bit boring and predictable at times, but younger ages will have a blast with it. They will be invested in the story and mesmerized by the bright colors.
That isn’t to say the movie itself is boring, but there are two moments that feel like endings, causing it to go on just a smidge too long.
Overall Thoughts
The Garfield Movie is adorable, but it is more of a kids movie than a family movie. The majority of the humor is geared toward a younger audience, and the plot is made simple so that kids can understand it without having to ask questions.
Chris Pratt is starting to become quite the voice actor. While his Garfield voice is nothing special, in fact it seems to be his actual voice, it somehow works with the character. Nicholas Hoult as Jon feels a bit on the younger side than most imagine Jon is, however he isn’t in the movie enough for this to become a real issue.
The animation is gorgeous, and it even switches up styles at one point. While it feels like we get two third acts, the villain is entertaining enough, and not too scary, that kids will remain interested though to the end.
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About The Garfield Movie
Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.
