 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Garfield
- Review Date: October 17, 2004
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
Cat-astrophic for adults, but kids will love it.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that for anyone over age 12, this is a 2 star movie. It may be painful viewing for you, but know that it's only 80 minutes, and it will make your kids really happy. The movie has some comic violence, including a shock collar used on both a dog and a human. No one of either species is seriously harmed. There is some PG-style crude language ("butt," "blow chunks," "suck-up") and brief vulgar humor. There is also some intrusive product placement for Wendy's, though the product that makes the greatest impression is the lasagna.
What's the story?
Based on Jim Davis' comic strip about a big, orange, lazy glutton of a cat, this live-action movie follows the adventures of Garfield (voice by Bill Murray), a "so much time and so little to do" cat who cares for nothing but food (especially lasagna), attention, and being in charge. Life feels pretty good for him until pretty veterinarian Liz (Jennifer Love Hewitt) persuades Jon (Breckin Meyer) to adopt a dog named Odie. Garfield experiences severe sibling rivalry, especially when his efforts to control Odie backfire. Then Odie is taken by an ambitious animal trainer, the decidedly un-happy Happy Chapman (Stephen Tobolowsky), who plans to make him perform on television, and Garfield goes to the rescue.
Is it any good?
In order to turn a three-panel comic not specifically directed at children into a feature film, the people behind this movie have tried to have it both ways. Garfield begins as the unabashedly self-centered, wisecracking character from the comic strip, but then somehow transforms into a loyal friend who is willing to take big risks to save the dog he once considered a rival. None of this makes much sense or captures our interest. But there are some pleasantly silly moments along the way.
Like the comic strip, the human characters are bland and barely visible. The stars here are the animals, real with some special effects enhancement except for the all-CGI Garfield. Highlights include a dance-off between Garfield and Odie to a Black-Eyed Peas song, a wild ride through airducts and stairs as Garfield tries to find Odie, and some just-to-keep-the-parents-awake references to Jerry Maguire, Apocalypse Now, Elvis, Billy Joel, and even Shakespeare's Henry V.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why Garfield was jealous of Odie and Happy was jealous of his brother, and why it was so hard for Jon and Liz to tell each other how they felt.
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- Teens & kids
AGE
They should have mad this G. But they didn't they recked it by putting.....
swears in it!
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AGE
I thought it was a little corny................
I say it's ok for 8 and under but I myself found it a bit cheesy and corny there were a few places that made me laugh but a little cheesy.
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AGE
No.
Bad take on Garfield. Also very predictable and has a poorly wrtitten plot.
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AGE
I saw this movie when I was eleven and didn't like it; so you could say that kids wouldn't like it. It has some laughs, but it was pretty stupid.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 13, 2011
AGE
FUNNIEST MOVIE EVER!!!
World's funniest cat is in such a funny movie!
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Peter Hewitt |
| Cast: | Bill Murray, Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 80 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 11, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | October 19, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | brief mild language. |
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