Review of:Garfield (2004)
Director:Peter Hewitt
Rating:PG for brief mild language
Starring:Liz Wilson, Bill Murray, Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Stephen Tobolowsky
Televisions and comic strips favorite wisecracking cat finally has his own live action movie. Seemingly inspired by the same CGI that brought us Scooby Doo this film starts slow, but builds into something enjoyable to watch.
We start off with Garfield (voiced by Bill Murray) and his owner John. They have a great relationship, and we see this through a series of pictures shown chronicling their life together. They have been bonded together throughout Garfield’s early life, and through this time Garfield has taken for granted the love his owner has shown for him. That is until John is given a dog by the women he has set his eyes on. The little dog, affectionately named Odie, brings the jealousy bug out in Garfield. The time he use to spend with his owner is compromised as John sets out to make sure Odie feels he belongs. It isn't until an unscrupulous television actor named Happy Chapman comes along that things between Odie and Garfield are smoothed, and when Odie is kidnapped it is then that Garfield realizes he actually likes the dog.
This film started off slow, and it could have easily slipped into oblivion with the sarcasm Garfield spews on everyone. Without Odie in the picture it seems just to be all mean spirited. It isn't until Odie shows up, and Garfield actually has cause to feel some agitation, that things move along swiftly. It is funny to say, but the real life Odie and the CGI cat are the best thing about this film. The dancing scene with Odie and Garfield is classic‚ and the whole time it was on screen everyone was laughing. Garfield’s owner John (Breckin Meyer) and his girlfriend Liz Wilson played by (Jennifer Love Hewitt) are just minor characters taking a back seat to the two primary characters antics.
Director Peter Hewitt (Princess of Thieves) does an admirable job of bringing together the world of CGI and the realm of normalcy. The film plays in a meager one hour and twenty five minutes. The perfect amount of time for children to stay into the story‚ and for adults not to tire of the film. I would recommend this film for all, and it is sure to be a great summer movie. Enjoy.
