Stop what you’re doing, cat lovers, lasagna aficionados, and lovers of sarcastic, chubby felines: The Garfield movie has finally arrived, and it’s the cinematic event we’ve all been waiting for. Okay, maybe “waiting for” is a bit of a stretch, but I can guarantee that it’s one of the most anticipated feline-centric movies of 2024. Because if there’s one thing the world has been missing, it’s a giant, orange, pasta-loving furball with a penchant for hating Mondays and roasting his dim-witted canine roommate.
But what is this movie? Why has Garfield come back to grace the big screen once again? And, more importantly, how in the name of Nermal did this ever get greenlit in the first place? Buckle up, because we’re diving headfirst into Garfield goodness, exploring everything from his humble comic strip origins to this brand-new cinematic adventure that’s taking 2024 by storm.
Garfield’s Comic Strip Origins: The Saga Begins
Before we can discuss the latest Garfield movie, we have to understand the cultural behemoth that gave us this lasagna-loving anti-hero in the first place. Created by Jim Davis in 1978, Garfield started as a comic strip chronicling the misadventures of a lazy, sardonic cat named Garfield, his hopelessly boring owner Jon Arbuckle, and their resident dunce, a dog named Odie. Sounds simple, right?
Wrong. Garfield took off like a rocket. And why wouldn’t it? Garfield was the embodiment of everything we secretly aspire to be: sarcastic, lazy, indifferent to the demands of modern life, and deeply, deeply in love with food. Garfield’s popularity skyrocketed, and soon, his face was everywhere: comic strips, T-shirts, lunchboxes, and even suction-cupped plush toys stuck to the rear windows of cars across America. (Fun fact: Garfield probably spent more time on the back of a 1980s Buick LeSabre than in a newspaper.)
Now fast forward to today, where Garfield has somehow maintained his relevancy in an age of TikTok trends and meme culture. How, you ask? Because Garfield was the original meme. His hatred of Mondays is basically the tagline of anyone who’s ever worked a 9-to-5. His love for food? Relatable on a molecular level. His complete indifference to authority? Name one person who doesn’t secretly want to live like that. So when the news of a Garfield movie in 2024 hit the internet, the reactions were a mix of nostalgia, excitement, and confusion. (Mainly confusion.)
The Plot: Garfield Saves the Day (Or, More Accurately, Doesn’t)
Ah, the Garfield movie plot. It’s everything you never knew you needed in a movie, and yet somehow it’s exactly what you’d expect. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure (or misfortune, depending on how you see it) of watching the movie yet, here’s a quick spoiler-free rundown of what you’re in for.
The film starts with our anti-hero Garfield (voiced by an actor who somehow perfectly captures the balance of laziness and sardonic wit we’ve come to expect) doing what he does best: eating. No surprise there. In fact, the opening montage is a veritable love letter to lasagna. Imagine Ratatouille but instead of a small French rat cooking, it’s a fat orange cat slowly eating his way through an entire buffet of pasta.
But all is not well in Garfield’s lasagna-laden paradise. Jon, his eternally unlucky owner, has once again found himself embroiled in a bizarre situation—this time involving a tech billionaire with a nefarious plan (because why not?). Said billionaire (played by an actor clearly having the time of their life) wants to replace all pets with robotic versions, because who has time to feed and care for animals when you could have a self-sustaining, Wi-Fi-enabled, pet robot?
Naturally, Garfield wants none of this. Not because he has any particular affection for Jon or Odie (he barely tolerates them at the best of times), but because robot pets mean the end of human laziness. Without a need to care for living, breathing pets, humans might actually start… getting stuff done. And that? That would lead to fewer naps, less lasagna, and, worst of all, an increase in productivity. Garfield simply can’t allow that.
And so, our orange anti-hero embarks on an adventure to thwart this billionaire’s dastardly plot. Along the way, he’ll encounter all sorts of new characters, from sassy cats to rebellious robot pets who’ve gained sentience. There’s action. There’s comedy. There’s existential dread (mostly from Jon). And of course, there’s a climactic final showdown in a kitchen that looks suspiciously like a cross between The Matrix and Iron Chef.
The Voice Cast: An All-Star Lineup (No, Seriously)
If there’s one thing that makes the 2024 Garfield movie stand out, it’s the voice cast. Hollywood truly outdid itself this time. While previous Garfield adaptations had their charm (Bill Murray, anyone?), this version takes the cake—or, more appropriately, the lasagna.
Garfield himself is voiced by one of Hollywood’s most beloved comedians, Chris Pratt, who manages to capture the perfect blend of sarcasm, indifference, and pasta obsession. It’s the kind of voice that makes you want to curl up on the couch, throw on a blanket, and join him in his eternal quest for a life of absolute minimalism. Every line drips with the dry wit we’ve come to love from Garfield, delivered with the energy level of a cat who couldn’t be bothered to chase a mouse if his life depended on it.
Then there’s Jon, whose voice actor, Nicholas Hoult, somehow manages to imbue the character with even more neurotic energy than we’ve seen before. If you thought Jon was anxious in the comics, just wait until you hear him trying to convince Garfield to stop eating all his groceries while simultaneously fending off robot pets. It’s a performance that will have you alternately laughing and wondering how Jon manages to get through the day without a full-blown panic attack.
Odie, bless his heart, is still as dumb as a brick, but his voice actors, Greg Berger and Harvey Guillen, have managed to make dumb sound endearing. It’s a fine line between “lovable goof” and “complete idiot,” and Odie walks that line with the grace of a dog running headfirst into a door.
But the real standout? The billionaire villain, Jinx. Imagine a mix between Tony Stark, Elon Musk, and a Bond villain, but with even more absurdity. Hannah Waddingham brings an unhinged energy to the role, delivering monologues about the future of pet ownership as though they’re discussing world domination. It’s over-the-top in the best way possible, and it’s exactly what you’d want from a Garfield villain.
The Animation: Garfield in Glorious CGI
Now, let’s talk about the animation. If you’re worried that this new Garfield movie would rely on the same uncanny valley CGI from the early 2000s (cough 2004 Garfield cough), rest assured: the animation has been upgraded. In fact, Garfield has never looked fluffier. The CGI is sleek, modern, and surprisingly detailed. You can practically see every strand of fur on Garfield’s body (which raises the question: does he shed? Does Jon have to vacuum up mountains of orange fur every day? These are the questions that keep me up at night).
What’s more, the animators have managed to capture Garfield’s signature expressions perfectly. His trademark “I’m too lazy to care” face is somehow even more deadpan in CGI. And when he’s forced to move (which, let’s be real, is a rare occurrence), it’s with the kind of sluggishness that only a true couch potato could achieve. You can almost feel the physical effort it takes for him to get off the couch, and honestly? Same, Garfield. Same.
Odie, meanwhile, bounces around with a level of energy that could power a small city, and Jon… well, Jon just looks exhausted. In short, the animation team clearly had fun bringing these characters to life, and it shows.
The Humor: Garfield’s Signature Sarcasm
Let’s be honest: the entire appeal of Garfield is his sarcasm. His dry, cutting remarks about life, food, and the general human condition are what made the comic strip such a hit in the first place. And the movie? It doubles down on that humor.
Garfield spends much of the movie delivering one-liners that could easily become memes. Whether he’s mocking Jon’s latest attempt to ask out a woman (spoiler alert: it goes terribly) or delivering scathing commentary on the absurdity of a world run by robot pets, Garfield’s humor remains as sharp as ever.
But it’s not just Garfield who gets the laughs. Jon, bless his heart, is still the butt of most jokes, and there’s something oddly comforting about seeing a grown man struggle with basic life tasks while his cat roasts him for it. And Odie, well… Odie is as oblivious as ever, and somehow that’s still funny. I don’t know how they do it, but the filmmakers have managed to keep Odie’s endless stupidity from getting old.
Then there’s the meta-humor. The movie is fully aware of how ridiculous it is, and it leans into that absurdity with gusto. There’s even a moment where Garfield, after watching a particularly ridiculous sequence involving robot pets and lasers, turns to the camera and says, “This is what I get for leaving the house. Next time, I’m staying in bed.” Honestly, Garfield? We can all relate.
Garfield’s Legacy: A Surprisingly Deep Message?
Now, you might be thinking: “Wait a minute, this is a Garfield movie. There’s no way there’s a deep message here.” And normally, I’d agree with you. But this movie? It sneaks in a surprisingly poignant message about modern life, technology, and, of course, the value of laziness.
At its core, the film is about resisting the pressures of a fast-paced, tech-driven world. Garfield’s refusal to conform to society’s demands for productivity is, in its own way, a revolutionary stance. In a world where everyone is obsessed with doing more, achieving more, and being constantly connected, Garfield is a reminder that sometimes, it’s okay to do less. Or, in his case, to do absolutely nothing.
And sure, it’s wrapped up in a story about robot pets and lasagna, but the message is clear: Life is too short to spend it working too hard. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take a nap, eat some lasagna, and let the world sort itself out.
Conclusion: The Garfield Movie We Didn’t Know We Needed
In the end, the new Garfield movie is exactly what you’d expect: funny, charming, and full of lasagna-fueled chaos. But it’s also something more. It’s a reminder of why we fell in love with this fat, sarcastic cat in the first place. It’s a celebration of laziness, sarcasm, and the simple joys of life—like food, naps, and roasting your friends (or, in Garfield’s case, your owner).
So if you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favor: Grab some lasagna, find the comfiest seat in the theater, and prepare to laugh, because Garfield is back—and he’s as lazy, sarcastic, and lovable as ever.
And remember: Mondays still suck….
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