Garfield: The Movie, 2004, PG, 1 hr 20 min

Garfield: The Movie

Runtime: 80 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Country of Origin: United States

Franchise: Garfield
Franchise Position: 1 (First live-action film adaptation)

America’s favorite lazy orange cat makes his big-screen debut — full of lasagna, sarcasm, and mischief — as he tries to save his owner’s new dog from trouble.

Ratings:
My Rating: 6.2/10
The Dove Foundation: Approved for All Ages
IMDb: 5.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 14%
Metacritic: 27
TMDb: 5.6/10

Plot Summary:
Garfield (voiced by Bill Murray) lives a pampered life with his owner Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer), ruling the house with snarky charm and a love for lasagna. His routine is disrupted when Jon adopts a sweet but dim-witted dog named Odie, who quickly steals the spotlight — and Jon’s attention. When Odie is kidnapped by a greedy television host seeking fame, Garfield must leave his comfortable home to rescue the pup, discovering courage, friendship, and a little humility along the way.

Critics Review:
Critics were largely unimpressed, citing a weak plot and overreliance on CGI humor. Many felt the film lacked the clever satire and wit of Jim Davis’s classic comic strip. However, Bill Murray’s dry voice performance as Garfield earned praise for capturing the cat’s sardonic personality. Audiences, especially younger viewers, found it a lighthearted and harmless comedy with a few genuine laughs and moments of heart.

Christian Perspective:
While not a faith-based film, Garfield: The Movie carries gentle moral themes about loyalty, selflessness, and learning to care for others. Garfield’s transformation from selfishness to sacrifice parallels a simple moral lesson found in Philippians 2:4 — “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” It promotes kindness, responsibility, and the importance of friendship, all of which align with Christian family values.

Family Friendliness:
Suitable for families and children. The film is clean and free of offensive content, aside from mild cartoonish peril and slapstick humor. Younger viewers will enjoy Garfield’s antics, while parents will appreciate the lighthearted, positive message about putting others first.

Notable Songs:
Holla! – Baha Men
New Dog Old Tricks – Stephen Krecklo
Let’s Get It Started – Black Eyed Peas

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