The Garfield Movie Review (Spoiler Alert)

Genre: Animated, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Rating: 5/10

Expectations

I went into The Garfield Movie with cautious optimism—after all, Garfield is an iconic character, and I was hoping for a fun, nostalgic ride. Unfortunately, what I got was a mixed bag.

Strengths

Let’s start with the positives: the animation is vibrant, and the voice cast is stacked with talent. Chris Pratt voices Garfield, and while he doesn’t quite capture the dry, sarcastic tone of the original character, he does a serviceable job. Samuel L. Jackson as Garfield’s long-lost father, Vic, adds some energy to the film, and the supporting cast—including Nicholas Hoult and Hannah Waddingham—keeps things lively.

Room for Improvement

However, the story itself is where things start to unravel. Instead of focusing on Garfield’s classic antics—his love for lasagna, his hatred for Mondays—the film turns into a heist adventure. Garfield, Odie, and Vic are forced into a high-stakes mission, which feels completely out of place for a character known for his laziness. The humor is hit-or-miss, with some genuinely funny moments but also a lot of forced jokes that don’t land.

Garfeild Fans

For longtime fans of Garfield, this movie might feel like a departure from what made the character special. The film tries to give Garfield a backstory, explaining his abandonment as a kitten, but this emotional angle doesn’t quite fit with the character’s usual carefree attitude. It’s an attempt to add depth, but it ends up feeling unnecessary.

Overall, The Garfield Movie is a decent watch for kids, but adults—especially those who grew up with Garfield—might find themselves wishing for something closer to the original comic strip’s charm. It’s not a terrible movie, but it’s not the Garfield film we deserved.

Fun for kids, but misses the mark for longtime fans.