Hollywood superstar Chris Pratt tackled the iconic role of the lazy, lasagna-loving feline Garfield when he voiced the unforgettable character in the 2024 animated comedy The Garfield Movie, which serves as an origin story for the beloved Jim Davis comic strip cat and features the additional talents of big names like Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, and Snoop Dogg. The film is the latest big-screen adaptation of the popular cartoon character, with comedic genius Bill Murray having previously voiced Garfield in two movies from the 2000s, both of which succeeded at the box office but failed to impress critics.
Similarly, The Garfield Movie proved to be a smash hit with moviegoers and went on to gross more than $257 million during its theatrical run, yet much like its predecessors, the flick was unable to win over the adoration of critics. Regardless of the lackluster response, The Garfield Movie is once again defying naysayers and has become a certified streaming hit since premiering on Netflix earlier this month, topping the platform’s charts and entertaining fans of all ages with its wholesome and fun storyline.
The Garfield Movie Features an Excellent Cast
With a stacked cast of some of the silver screen’s most sensational stars led by Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, and Hannah Waddingham, the 2024 animated comedy The Garfield Movie is the latest Hollywood adaptation of the beloved Jim Davis comic strip and follows the lovable and lazy feline as he is reunited with his long-lost father and becomes swept up in an exciting adventure. After finding themselves in a sticky situation, Garfield (Pratt) and his best friend Odie (Harvey Guillén) are rescued by the tough street cat Vic (Jackson), a reunion the sarcastic tabby wants no part of.
Believing his dad cruelly abandoned him in an alley when he was just a kitten, Garfield must put aside his resentment towards Vic in order to protect him from the crazed Persian cat Jinx (Waddingham), who is making the trio carry out a dangerous heist as a form of revenge against the elder feline. As Garfield, Vic, and Odie plot to break into Lactose Farms to steal a large quantity of milk for Jinx, the estranged father and son begin to reconnect and repair their battered relationship, with the lasagna-loving tabby realizing that maybe he was wrong about Vic and his noble reasons for leaving him behind.
Chris Pratt Tackles the Role of the Legendary Feline
Chris Pratt is the latest charismatic leading man to take on the role of the self-absorbed and cynical orange tabby cat, with the MCU superstar being director Mark Dindal’s first choice to headline the animated adventure and voice the iconic character. Dindal told Variety, “he had been imagining [Pratt’s] voice coming out of Garfield for years,” and Jim Davis even felt the actor had the talent and range to capture “all sides of the character” and not just the feline’s signature deadpan humor. The filmmaker added that Pratt was the unanimous choice and that to ensure he was the right fit, they paired the star’s voice with some of Garfield’s dialogue, with Dindal recalling:
“He was talking about something to do with loving food – I can’t remember if it was lasagna. We took that bit of dialogue and did a little bit of animation, and it felt so much like it captured the essence of Garfield. I guess Chris just captures that laziness and sarcasm in his natural voice.”
Prior to Pratt voicing the Monday-loathing cat, comedy legend Bill Murray had famously (or perhaps infamously) provided his distinct voice for the character in two big screen adaptations: 2004’s Garfield: The Movie and the 2006 sequel Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties. While both films were major box office successes, critics ripped into the animated flicks and heavily panned their screenplays and lackluster humor, with many feeling they failed to embody the heart and spirit of the celebrated comic strip; the original animated movie and its follow-up currently hold an extremely underwhelming 14% and 12% Rotten Tomatoes scores.
Despite the overwhelmingly negative reception to the two animated movies, Murray seems to have kept a good attitude about his time as the legendary cat, having memorably joked about the experience during his scene-stealing cameo in the 2009 horror-comedy Zombieland. As the fictional version of himself was dying on the screen in the blockbuster hit, Murray was asked if he had any regrets, to which the cultural icon cheekily replied, “Garfield, maybe?”. Luckily for Pratt, The Garfield Movie has had a slightly better critical reception than its predecessors and became a massive commercial triumph upon its worldwide release.
The Garfield Movie Was a Summer Blockbuster Hit
The Garfield Movie made its epic premiere on May 24, 2024, and is the sixth film adaptation of the enduring comic strip, with the animated extravaganza opening up alongside Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Sight. The latest big-screen installment went on to debut at $24.8 million in its opening weekend and finished behind Furiosa, completing its theatrical run with box office earnings of more than $257 million against a $60 million budget. Similarly to the Bill Murray movies, critics were less-than-impressed by The Garfield Movie, with many feeling the lazy feline didn’t need a backstory and that it didn’t relate to the original subject source.
Even though The Garfield Movie received a 36% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, audiences were far more pleased with the film and not only awarded it a solid B+ CinemaScore but also gave it a dazzling 80% Popcornmeter. Viewers thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgia factor of the wholesome flick and the voice performances of its exceptional cast, and because of the positive fan reaction, The Garfield Movie was nominated for the Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie.
Four months after The Garfield Movie landed in theaters, the fun and zany picture has continued to succeed with audiences and topped the streaming charts when it became available to watch on Netflix. The film surpassed fellow new releases like Uglies and Rebel Ridge and is delighting fans of all ages with its endearing storyline and beloved characters, remaining in the highly-coveted top spot and emerging as a bona fide streaming knockout. Despite the critic scores, it seems that the film landed with audiences. Stream The Garfield Movie on Netflix.
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