GARFIELD

REVIEWED BY CARISSA HORTON

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: thematic elements

Rated:

Ah yes, to experience a week in the life of a fat, lazy fur ball named Garfield (voice of Bill Murray). He has it good, nothing to worry about save Jon’s (Breckin Meyer) obsession with the local veterinarian Liz (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Garfield’s chief enjoyments are these three: avoiding trouble at all costs, terrorizing the neighborhood dogs (especially the idiotic ones) and preying on Nermal, a somewhat weak-minded member of the feline species. His existence is good, with no ripples in the water, until Jon goes and does the unthinkable. In order to impress Liz, he agrees to adopt a dog. And not just any dog, but as Garfield would say, this is “Tweedle-Dee the Wonder Dummy.” Odie is a rambunctious Terrier-type critter with an insane obsession with chasing his tail and annoying the dickens out of Garfield.

All Garfield can comprehend is that his kingdom has been invaded, and this encroachment he will not accept from any man nor beast. The situation becomes practically intolerable when Jon takes a sincere liking to Odie. He even goes to the extent of agreeing to accompany Liz to a dog show with Odie in tow. Just being in her company gives Jon an emotional high, so this will please both of them, especially since Liz seems to genuinely reciprocate his affection. Unbeknownst to the couple and their dog, Garfield has stowed away, unwilling to be left out of the action for even a moment. Naturally, a cat at a dog show would be like a canary at a feline convention. Not good! Every dog present at that show, except for Odie, chase after Garfield as if he were the latest goodie at a buffet. While Garfield and the pack of hounds are occupied elsewhere, Odie becomes the star of the show, performing a little dance number to music playing in the arena. First prize goes to Odie, who wasn’t even entered to begin with. Odie is such a hit that one gentleman even offers to purchase him for a TV show he’s embarking upon.

Jon of course refuses, much to the surprise and annoyance of the man who made the offer. Odie is quite secure in his new home and Jon has no thought of selling the adorable dog, especially that he now knows of Odie’s unique talents. Garfield barely manages to escape the furious canines and hitches a ride home on the underside of Liz’s vehicle, grateful to have survived and swearing he’ll never leave the cul-de-sac again. Garfield makes one little error however with a swing of a paw and before Jon has even entered the house the front room is in a complete shambles. Jon is positively furious and Garfield, for the first time in his life, has been banished to the great outdoors for the entire night. He’s has never been more miserable, Jon and Odie are perfectly snug inside, and Garfield is beginning to sense that the change may be permanent. Could Jon actually begin ignoring Garfield? Could Odie take his place in the lives of those who know Garfield best?

Most of the violence isn’t violence really, just Garfield knocking Odie and sometimes Nermal around a little. Dogs chase after Garfield and he’s also threatened a couple of times by a huge brute of a canine with teeth to match. No blood or broken bones, or even bruises appear from any of these scuffles, which is a good thing. However, a man does use a shock collar on a dog; a big no-no to any animal lover, though he gets his just desserts by the end. A group of dogs gang up on a villain and it’s implied that they’re biting him along with his being shocked by the electric collar. This is only seen in shadow, and if memory serves me right you don’t see blood in this scene either. There’s a bit of flirtation between Jon and Liz, but nothing questionable. Just a few short kisses and the admittance of their each having a crush on the other during school. Once they’re laying together on the couch in Jon’s home, but it’s never implied that anything happened as they’re fully clothed and happily watching a movie on TV. There’s really no language to speak of, just some mild trash talk by Garfield that really doesn’t make much of a dent. Innuendo also doesn’t make much of a play as I first expected and for that I was pleased; the less there is the better for everyone.

All in all, it was rather cute, with many good points. However, I’m afraid I was a little disappointed with the outcome. Garfield has a somewhat vicious sense of humor and in the comics does far more damage then simply pushing Odie off a chair. I realize his character needed to be mellowed out, but he’s just not the same sarcastic feline I had come to enjoy reading every morning with breakfast. He even sleeps in a bed, an actual miniature bed on the floor of Jon’s room. Never once that I remember did Garfield sleep in a bed; he was always perfectly content with his box. Nermal is not the adorable little kitten with the sharp wit who always attempts to get the best of Garfield and winds up being invariably trounced. He’s somewhat dense and very easy prey. For anyone who has read the comics, they will probably realize that Garfield was never in any danger from Odie. Usually it was the other way around, and Garfield certainly had no concerns about being replaced with the dog. That may very well be what I was most disappointed with; the complete turnaround from the original characters in many respects.

Still, it turned out to be a good family film, and there are some laughs. Garfield would probably satisfy most animal lover patrons and their children especially. After all, who could help loving that big lump of blubber and orange fur!