Garfield: The Movie is a 2004 American computer-animated comedy film. It is the first installment in the Garfield film trilogy and is about the titular overweight, lazy, trouble-making cat with a dry sense of humor. Directed by Steve Martino in his directorial debut and inspired by Jim Davis' comic strip of the same name, it stars Bill Murray as Garfield and Ben Stiller as Jon Arbuckle. The film was produced by Blue Sky Studios & Paws, Inc. and distributed by 20th Century Fox.
It was released in the United States on June 11, 2004. The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $200 million on a $50 million budget. Three sequel, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006), Garfield: Lost in the Africa (2008) and Garfield: World of the Final (2013) along with two spin-off Nermal (2014) and Nermal: Ghostwinked! (2025). It is the first Garfield film distributed by 20th Century Fox following their acquisition of the license, which would expire in 2010.
Plot[]
Garfield, an overweight, lethargic and free-spirited orange cat, lives with his owner Jon Arbuckle. Garfield passes his time by tormenting Jon and outwitting his vicious Doberman neighbor, Luca. Aside from Jon, Garfield maintains a friendship with a mouse, Squeak, and also socializes with his fellow neighborhood cats, Carlos and Arlene, but is annoyed by a Grey tabby cat, Nermal.
Jon has begun habitually bringing Garfield to the veterinarian, in order to see vet Dr. Liz Wilson, whom he is in love with. Jon tries to ask Liz out, but due to a misunderstanding, Jon is given custody of a dog named Odie, who is sociable, friendly and hyperactive. Garfield, however, takes an instant dislike to Odie and competes for Jon's attention. Odie is brought to a canine talent show, where Binky the Clown is a judge. Garfield gets chased by the other dogs, which prompts Odie to the center of the ring, where he does a successful improvised dance to the Black Eyed Peas' "Hey Mama". A local television host named Happy Chapman, who is also a judge, is impressed with Odie's performance, and offers Jon a television deal for Odie, but Jon declines.
When Garfield returns home, fed up with Odie's presence in his life, he hits a ball, causing a chain reaction that leaves the house in disarray. When Jon discovers this, he forces Garfield to sleep outside for the night. When Odie comes out to comfort Garfield, he gets inside and locks Odie out. Carlos, Arlene and Nermal witness this as Odie runs away but is then picked up by an elderly woman named Mrs. Baker. Jon searches for Odie while Garfield's friends express their disappointment with him regarding his treatment towards Odie.
Meanwhile, Happy Chapman, revealed to be allergic to cats, is envious of his news reporter brother, Walter, and dreams to perform on "Good Day New York". Chapman and his assistant Wendell find a notice Mrs. Baker created of Odie and, recognizing the lucrative possibilities, claim Odie as Happy's own. When Garfield sees Odie on television and hears Chapman announce he and Odie are going to New York City. Garfield sets out to rescue Odie. Jon discovers Garfield is also missing, so he begins to search for him and Odie. Garfield gets into the broadcast tower via the air vents and finds Odie locked in a cage, but Chapman enters and secures a shock collar to Odie, which, when activated, releases an electric shock that forces Odie to perform tricks.
Chapman heads for the train station with Garfield in hot pursuit. However, an animal control officer intercepts Garfield, mistaking him as a stray. Meanwhile, Mrs. Baker tells Jon that Chapman took Odie, making him believe Garfield was taken by Chapman as well and then learn Chapman is leaving for the train station. Concurrently, Chapman's abandoned feline star Persnikitty, who dubs himself Sir Roland, along with the other animals, releases Garfield from the pound. Chapman boards a New York-bound train, with Odie in the luggage car. After arriving just to see the train depart, Garfield sneaks into the train system control room and switches the tracks, leading to an impending multiple train wreck. Garfield hits an emergency stop button which halts all the trains just in time, then returns Chapman's train to the station. Garfield frees Odie and they prepare to leave. However, Chapman chases them and eventually corners the duo in a suitcase area. Chapman threatens Odie with the shock collar, but Garfield's friends from the pound, Louis with his entire rat family, led by Sir Roland, attack Chapman and place the collar on his neck.
Shortly after, Garfield and Odie incapacitate Chapman by activating the collar. Jon arrives and finds Chapman, punching him in the face for kidnapping his pets. Garfield, Odie and Jon reunite and return home, while Chapman is arrested for his supposed involvement with the trains, as well as kidnapping Odie. Back home, Garfield regains his friends' respect and even Nermal's as they hail him a hero.
Cast[]
- Bill Murray as Garfield, Jon's overweighted, cynical, lazy and laid-back orange cat.
- Gregg Berger as:
- Odie (vocal effects), a dog who becomes friends with Garfield, even having a love/hate relationship with him.
- Herman Post, the mailman who is often tormented by Garfield.
- Squeak, a mouse who is a friend of Garfield's.
- Ben Stiller as Jon Arbuckle, Garfield and Odie's owner.
- Julie Payne as Dr. Liz Wilson, Garfield's vet, and Jon's love interest.
- Stephen Tobolowsky as Happy Chapman, a local television host, and his brother Walter J. Chapman, a TV news journalist who reports on relevant events.
- Alan Cumming as Persnikitty (his real name is revealed to be "Sir Roland"), an irascible cat.
- David Eigenberg as Carlos, Garfield's naïve best friend.
- Jason Marsden as Nermal, a cute-looking kitten who is rather annoying to Garfield.
- Brad Garrett as Luca, an aggressive Doberman Pinscher who guards the house next door to Garfield.
- Audrey Wasilewski as Arlene, Garfield's love interest.
- Evan Arnold as Wendell, Happy's butler.
- Mark Christopher Lawrence as Christopher Mello, Happy's co-host.
- Tom Kenny as Binky the Clown, a loud and obnoxious TV clown.
- Eve Brent as Mrs. Baker, an old woman who rescues Odie.
- Jimmy Kimmel as Spanky (unnamed in the film)
- Nick Cannon as Louis, a quick-witted rat who reluctantly helps Garfield save Odie.
- Richard Kind as Dad Rat
- Debra Jo Rupp as Mom Rat
- Wyatt Smith, Jordan Kaiser and Alyson Stoner as unnamed kid rats – Kid Rat No. 1, Kid Rat No. 2 and Kid Rat No. 3 respectively
- Juliette Goglia as Little Girl, a girl who tries to adopt Persnikitty from Animal Control.
- Leyna Nguyen as News Reporter (Abby), Walter's co-worker.
Trivia[]
- Garfield: The Movie was the last Blue Sky Studios film without its on-screen logo and the "Twentieth Century Fox Animation presents" credit.
- The film is dedicated in loving memory of Lorenzo Music, who passed away on August 4th, 2001.
- It was nominated in the Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature, but lost to The Incredibles.