The Garfield Movie
The brief
This latest Garfield reboot feels like a perfectly serviceable animated distraction that coasts on nostalgic goodwill without much spark. Chris Pratt's voice work is aggressively fine, bringing none of the cynical wit that made the comic strip endearing, while the heist plot padding stretches what should be a breezy 80 minutes into nearly two hours of mild chuckles. The animation has that glossy, corporate sheen of recent Sony pictures, competent but forgettable. Perfect for parents who need 101 minutes of peace and kids under 8 who just want bright colors and familiar characters moving around.
The verdict
If you're a parent seeking a harmless animated distraction that will keep young kids entertained with colorful visuals and familiar characters, this delivers exactly that low-stakes comfort. If you're hoping for the sardonic humor that made Garfield beloved or have kids old enough to demand actual wit from their entertainment, you'll find this aggressively mediocre effort a slog at nearly two hours.
Watch with
- 👨👩👧👦 Perfect for parents needing quiet time with young kids
- ⚠️ Adults expecting Garfield's signature cynicism will be disappointed
Heads up
- Mild cartoon peril during heist sequences (brief)
- Some slapstick violence with cats and dogs (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Mark Dindal
- Cast
- Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén
Official synopsis
Garfield, the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass (2025)
Classic cat and mouse animated adventure perfectly complements Garfield's heist comedy.
Total runtime: 1h 41m + 1h 44m = 3h 25m
