No one can accuse Garfield: The Movie of infidelity to its source: It faithfully conveys the banality of Jim Davis's cartoon.
Garfield the Movie (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:32
Fresh:3
Rotten:29
Average Rating:3.4/10
Consensus: When the novelty of the CGI Garfield wears off, what's left is a simplistic kiddie movie.
Theatrical Release:Jun 11, 2004 Wide
Box Office: $75,253,404
Synopsis: The long-running, popular comic strip about the fat and lazy cat named Garfield comes to life with this live-action Hollywood comedy. Based on characters created by Jim Davis, the film tells the... The long-running, popular comic strip about the fat and lazy cat named Garfield comes to life with this live-action Hollywood comedy. Based on characters created by Jim Davis, the film tells the story of this supremely spoiled pet, who wants the affection of everyone around him, only he wants it on his own terms. Trouble arises one day when, under the influence of the beautiful veterinarian Liz (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Garfield's owner Jon (Breckin Meyer) stuns him by bringing home a cuddly dog, Odie. Jealous at the attention Odie is receiving, Garfield locks Odie out of the house. Odie runs away and when he's kidnapped by the evil television personality Happy Chapman (Stephen Tobolowsky), Garfield realizes his mistake, and embarks on a brave mission to rescue his new housemate. Bill Murray is a perfect choice to provide the loveable voice behind the computer-animated cat. Director Peter Hewitt keeps the story moving along at a clipped pace, which will ensure that children's attention spans won't be tested. Breezy and charming, GARFIELD is a nostalgic return to the past for older viewers who grew up with the fuzzy feline, and an engaging introduction for younger audiences who are meeting him for the very first time. [More]
Starring: Breckin Meyer, Bill Murray, Liz Wilson, Jennifer Love Hewitt
Starring: Breckin Meyer, Bill Murray, Liz Wilson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Stephen Tobolowsky, Debra Messing, Alan Cumming, Brad Garrett
Director: Peter Hewitt
Director: Peter Hewitt
Screenwriter: Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow
Producer: John Davis
Composer: Christophe Beck
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Release:
Jun 16, 2009
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- NTSC
- Keep Case
- Full Frame - 1.33
- Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
- Dolby Surround 5 - French, Spanish
- Dolby Surround 5.1 - English
- Subtitles - English, French, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
- Music Video: Baha Men - HOLLA
- Featurette: Inside Look: Animation Transition
- Audio Commentary: Peter Hewitt and John Davis - Director and Producer
Trailers:
- 1. CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN
- 2. DR. DOLITTLE
- 3. LIKE MIKE
- 4. THE SANDLOT
- 5. Bratz Music Video
- 6. STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
Reviews for Garfield the Movie
Though Garfield runs barely 80 minutes, it seems a good hour of it involves chases, furniture and luggage collapsing, and grown-up actors madly mugging.
There's nothing to recommend about this film except its sheer innocuousness.
Only very small children still easily impressed by interaction of human actors and CGI quadrupeds will be amused by Garfield: The Movie.
The movie is far from a cat-astrophe, but it's also nowhere near purr-fect.
Garfield looks like the work of someone who's hardly seen the backside of a camera.
Our 8-year-old adored it. But except for Murray's voice-over work, Mom was allergic.
Garfield may or may not have nine lives. But you may leave the theater feeling you've left at least one of your own behind.
Equally insulting to both the homespun adult fans of the comic strip and the oblivious children for whom tired gags are served up like leftover lasagna.
A toothless, harmless, mostly charmless mongrel movie that mixes live-action actors and animals with a computer-generated version of the comic strip cat that Jim Davis created in 1978.
I don't know who had the idea that Bill Murray would be the right actor to do Garfield's voice, but the casting is inspired.
Latest News for Garfield the Movie
March 09, 2007:
Jason Lee Signs On for "Chipmunks" Movie
Another cool actor has been seduced by the CGI machine: Funny guy Jason Lee has signed on to star opposite Alvin, Simon and Theodore in Fox's live-action version of "Alvin... More...
June 19, 2006:
Box Office Wrapup: "Cars" in Pole Position Again, "Da Vinci Code" Reaches $679M Globally
Despite the arrival of four new films cluttering the multiplexes, the Disney/Pixar animated film Cars remained the most popular movie in North America for a second straight... More...
June 19, 2006:
Poster Parade: "Zoom," "Bug" & "Guardian"
It's not too often I find myself looking forward to a Tim Allen comedy, but this one's about superheroes and also stars Courteney Cox, Rip Torn, and ... Chevy Chase (!), so... More...
June 15, 2006:
Critical Consensus: Soggy "Nacho," Aimless "Drift," Untidy "House"
This week at the movies, we've got wrestlers ("Nacho Libre"), Tokyo drifters ("The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift"), time-delayed lovers ("The Lake... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Garfield the Movie at Rotten Tomatoes
- Garfield the Movie at IGN
- Garfield the Movie at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Hollywood.com ponders whether or not an animated film could win Best Picture.

Richard Corliss previews the season's best offerings and hottest tickets.

The AV Club's Mike D'Angelo airs his beefs with Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



