The Garfield Movie Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Garfield meets his deadbeat dad, robs a milk factory, and learns that family is as important as lasagna, but not really.

🍿 The Garfield Movie: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Garfield’s Pampered Life

Garfield, voiced by Chris Pratt, lives a life of luxury with his owner Jon and his canine companion, Odie. His days are filled with eating lasagna, ordering food online, and enjoying the comforts of home. Garfield’s biggest worries include Mondays and trips to the vet, a stark contrast to the adventurous life he’s about to encounter. One night, this comfortable routine is disrupted when Garfield and Odie are kidnapped. This sets in motion a series of events that will force Garfield out of his comfort zone and into a world he never knew existed.

Reunion with Vic

Garfield and Odie are rescued by a scruffy street cat named Vic, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, who reveals himself to be Garfield’s long-lost father. Garfield harbors resentment towards Vic for abandoning him as a kitten. This unexpected reunion forces Garfield to confront his past and re-evaluate his relationship with his estranged father. Vic’s reappearance drags Garfield and Odie into a high-stakes heist orchestrated by a vengeful Persian cat named Jinx, voiced by Hannah Waddingham. Garfield is torn between his comfortable life with Jon and the allure of adventure with his father.

The Milk Heist

Jinx coerces Garfield, Vic, and Odie into breaking into Lactose Farms to steal a large quantity of milk as compensation for her imprisonment, stemming from a past betrayal by Vic. Reluctantly, Garfield agrees to participate to protect himself and his friends. The trio embarks on a journey to the farm, facing numerous obstacles and challenges along the way. They encounter Otto, a bull voiced by Ving Rhames, who helps them navigate the farm’s security system in exchange for helping him reunite with his cow girlfriend, Ethel. As they prepare for the heist, Garfield and Vic struggle to connect, leading to emotional confrontations and revelations about their past.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Garfield (Chris Pratt): A lasagna-loving, Monday-hating indoor cat who is forced into an outdoor adventure when his estranged father reappears.
• Vic (Samuel L. Jackson): Garfield’s long-lost, scruffy street cat father, who pulls Garfield into a high-stakes heist.
• Odie (Harvey Guillén): Garfield’s loyal canine friend who accompanies him on his unexpected adventure.
• Jinx (Hannah Waddingham): A vengeful Persian cat and the main antagonist, seeking revenge on Vic for past betrayals.
• Jon Arbuckle (Nicholas Hoult): Garfield’s owner, who is loving but largely uninvolved in Garfield’s adventure.
• Otto (Ving Rhames): A former mascot bull who helps Garfield and Vic during their heist in exchange for reuniting with his girlfriend.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jon: “Say when!” – Jon says this while grating a mountain of parmesan cheese onto Garfield’s lasagna, indulging his love for food.
• Garfield: “Never, Jon! Bury me in cheese!” – Garfield says this enthusiastically while reveling in the massive amount of cheese, showcasing his extreme love for food.
• Jinx: “Revenge is a dish best served cold, preferably with milk.” – Jinx states this expressing her intent to get revenge on Vic for abandoning her.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $60,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $91,956,547
• Worldwide Gross: $257,211,519

💥 The Garfield Movie Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went in expecting pure silliness and got…well, mostly silliness. But also, a bit of heart? The animation was great, and I laughed more than I thought I would, especially with the Otto the bull character. Honestly, the storyline was weak. But the part where Garfield connects with his dad at the end, made me tear up! It was a fun watch, and I’d recommend it for a family movie night.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the Garfield comic strip and animated series”
  • “Families looking for a lighthearted and fun movie”
  • “Viewers who enjoy animated adventure comedies”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild action and peril”
  • “Comedic violence”
  • “Themes of abandonment and family conflict”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While ‘The Garfield Movie’ delivers vibrant animation and some genuinely funny moments, it often feels like a missed opportunity to capture the comic strip’s sharp wit. Chris Pratt’s voice acting is adequate, but it lacks the sardonic edge that defines Garfield’s personality. The plot, while serviceable, struggles to maintain momentum, resulting in a pleasant but ultimately forgettable cinematic experience.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “‘The Garfield Movie’ attempts to modernize the beloved character for a new generation, but in doing so, it loses much of its original charm. The animation is slick, and Samuel L. Jackson adds a welcome dose of energy, but the story is predictable and the humor often relies on tired clichés. Ultimately, it’s a harmless but unremarkable addition to the Garfield franchise.
• IGN: “The Garfield Movie is a decent film without further ado, the script is simple and fun, in addition to containing a well-made family message, however it fails to capture the essence of the animated series ‘Garfield and Friends’ or the sarcasm of the strip comedy by Jim Davis.

Audience Reactions

The animation style captured the essence of Garfield with vibrant colors and expressive character designs.: Viewers loved the nostalgia and modern twist of the classic Garfield comic strip.

The voice acting was superb, with Chris Pratt and Samuel L. Jackson bringing a unique dynamic to Garfield and his father.: Most audiences found the comedic timing and heartwarming moments made for a satisfying viewing experience.

Overall Consensus: A visually appealing and mildly entertaining movie that’s fun for kids, but likely won’t become a classic for older Garfield fans.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This is the third theatrical Garfield film, following ‘Garfield’ (2004) and ‘Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties’ (2006), but the first fully animated movie.”
• “The film explores Garfield’s origin story, revealing how he met Jon Arbuckle and how he was separated from his father, Vic.”
• ” Lorenzo Music, the original voice actor for Garfield in the animated series, is honored with a nod in the movie, a music store named after him”

🖥️ How to Watch The Garfield Movie?

The Garfield Movie is currently available to rent or purchase on various platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for availability, as options may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Garfield Movie, you might like these similar films:

• The Secret Life of Pets (2016): Both films feature domesticated animals embarking on an adventure in the outside world.
• Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023): Shares the theme of animals breaking into a farm facility.
• Bolt (2008): It shows how a domestic pet who thinks he is super-powered goes out in the real world and learns to use his skills.

🛒 The Garfield Movie Related Products

• The Garfield Movie: Official Activity Book: Provides hours of entertainment with puzzles, coloring pages, and games based on the characters and scenes from the movie.
• Garfield Plush Toy: A soft and huggable plush toy of Garfield, featuring his iconic lazy expression and loveable design, a must-have for fans of all ages.
• The Essential Garfield Vol. 1: A collection of classic Garfield comic strips by Jim Davis, showcasing Garfield’s witty humor and iconic adventures.
• The Garfield Movie [Blu-ray]: Blu-Ray edition for enhanced visual and audio quality, featuring behind-the-scenes content, deleted scenes, and exclusive interviews with the cast and crew.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Garfield Movie features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “That’s Amore” – performed by Dean Martin
• “Heist music” – performed by John Debney

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Garfield Movie star Hannah Waddingham chooses her favorite Italian food! #garfield #movie #pizza

Ever wondered what kind of pizza a star like Hannah Waddingham craves? Her choice is surprisingly relatable, and she makes a pretty convincing argument for it! Gotta love a classic.

He’s such a good dad 😭💔 #garfrield #garfield #garfieldmovie #sadmoments #sadcartoon #sadness

Prepare to tear up! This video highlights some of the most heartwarming (and heartbreaking!) moments from the movie. I didn’t expect Garfield to make me feel so much, tbh!

The Garfield Movie – Movie Review

Want a quick and honest take on the new Garfield movie? Jeremy Jahns gives his thoughts, and you might be surprised by what he has to say! Always good to get an expert’s opinion before you watch.

Why Garfield REALLY hates Mondays! #garfieldmovie #sonyanimation #chrispratt #odie #comicstrip

We all hate Mondays, but why does Garfield REALLY despise them? This video dives into a fun theory that actually makes a lot of sense! It’s definitely something to think about next Monday morning.

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