The Garfield Movie Blu-ray Review: How-to-Draw Videos Highlight Home Release

The Garfield Movie Blu-ray Review: How-to-Draw Videos Highlight Home Release

As someone who spent countless hours poring over Garfield comics and tuning into Garfield and Friends every Saturday morning, I must say that The Garfield Movie Blu-ray has been a delightful addition to my collection. Chris Pratt’s performance as Garfield might not be a dead ringer for Lorenzo Music, but he brings a unique charm that makes the film enjoyable in its own right.


As a child, I was fond of Garfield comics and the Garfield and Friends TV series, which left me with a special affection for the chubby cat. This year, I found myself amused by The Garfield Movie, and my excitement grew when the Blu-ray of the animated film was released. Although Chris Pratt doesn’t sound like Lorenzo Music, he delivers a moving performance that I find quite appealing.

In a surprising turn of events, our well-known, Monday-despising, lasagna-devouring house cat Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt) is on the brink of an exhilarating outdoor escapade! Following an unforeseen encounter with his long-lost father – the rugged street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his loyal dog companion Odie are compelled to abandon their luxurious, pampered lifestyle and join Vic in a side-splitting, high-risk burglary mission, as suggested by the official synopsis.

Buy The Garfield Movie Blu-ray

Following an endearing introduction showcasing an irresistibly cute baby Garfield alongside a struggling Jon Arbuckle (brilliantly brought to life by Nicholas Hoult), the movie primarily unfolds as a buddy comedy centered around Pratt’s Garfield and his estranged father, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson’s Vic. They share a strong bond, the dialogue generates consistent chuckles and amusing visual effects (with certain sequences involving Hannah Waddingham’s villainous Jinx being particularly stylish). It may not strive for greatness, but it sticks to a successful formula, which is likely why it grossed more than $250 million at the box office.

Upon rewatching, I found myself thoroughly impressed by the voice performances. For instance, Jon, voiced by Hoult, sounds distinct from his usual speech and he does an excellent job at making him endearing. On the other hand, I was taken aback to discover that Harvey Guillén voices Odie and is responsible for all the yipping and barking noises. The minor roles are well-chosen (although Snoop Dogg voicing a cat?!) and Ving Rhames delivers yet another outstanding performance as the bull that helps Garfield and Vic to gain perspective. Collectively, these elements contribute to a heartwarming father-son tale that packs a surprising emotional punch despite the movie’s generally goofy tone.

The Garfield Movie Blu-ray doesn’t offer many extensive bonus features exploring the film, but it does include a variety of more superficial ones instead. There’s a 4-minute cast introduction video discussing their voice choices, a 3-minute piece covering the movie’s themes, a 2-minute funny gag reel featuring Samuel L. Jackson, and a 3-minute Easter egg video highlighting adorable hidden references.

Additional perks include a time-lapse video demonstrating the development process from concept to completion for various scenes, as well as an animatic for a cut scene featuring Waddingham’s “I’m Back” song during the credits. Furthermore, there are two instructional videos on drawing characters such as Garfield, Odie, Jon, and new movie characters like Vic, Otto, Jinx, Roland, and Nolan. These tutorials are led by character designer Taylor Krahenbuhl, who provides in-depth explanations and allows viewers to follow along. The instructional videos are particularly noteworthy among the special features.

The Garfield Movie Blu-ray Review: Final Verdict

For Garfield enthusiasts or parents, The Garfield Movie Blu-ray is a delightful addition to their collection, offering amusing content that appeals to both children and adults. The talented cast, notably Samuel L. Jackson and Hannah Waddingham, deliver excellent voice performances. Additionally, the DVD offers some engaging extras, such as drawing tutorials, which can make for an enjoyable family activity night.

For transparency, we’d like to mention that we received a copy of The Garfield Movie on Blu-ray from the distributor for our review.

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2024-08-28 03:40