By John Corrado

Garfield, that lazy, lasagna-loving orange cat from the Jim Davis comic strips, returns to the big screen in Sony’s aptly titled The Garfield Movie.

Arriving two decades after the live action Garfield, which had Bill Murray voicing the sarcastic feline, this first fully animated theatrical feature works as an enjoyable caper, that casts Chris Pratt as the voice of the titular house cat.

It’s a bit of a modern upgrade for the characters (Garfield now has a penchant for ordering food via drone from a food delivery app on Jon’s smartphone), but one that still retains much of the appeal of the original comic strips (which, full disclosure, I was a pretty big fan of as a kid).

These comic strip origins are felt through the film, which opens with Garfield addressing the audience as he would in many of the strip’s panels. The film becomes an origin story of sorts, taking us back to when Jon (Nicholas Hoult) first adopted him as a hungry kitten that he discovers making eyes at him through the window of an Italian restaurant. This is shown in an extended flashback, with Baby Garfield (who is adorable and sure to sell lots of plushies) finding the eatery after being abandoned in an alley in the rain by his “father” Vic (Samuel L. Jackson).

The plot is set in motion when Garfield and Jon’s dog Odie (Harvey Guillén) – updated to serve as more of an equal sidekick who doesn’t speak but often serves as the voice of reason – are kidnapped by Jinx (Hannah Waddingham), a villainess cat who wants revenge on the rough and tumble street cat Vic. It essentially becomes a heist movie, with them needing to steal a truck full of milk from Lactose Farms to even the score, getting help from a lonely bull named Otto (Ving Rhames), who has been put out to pasture as the farm’s mascot.

The pop culture references and product placement can be a bit much, and the film often moves at a hyper pace, with the finale leaning in to being somewhat busy and action-packed with a lot of moving parts. While these are already well-defined characters, the story also doesn’t give Jon that much to do (though there is room for growth in an inevitable sequel). But it’s not trying to reinvent the wheel for animated films; it’s trying to be a Garfield movie, and it mostly feels like one.

The film’s strongest arc finds Garfield being forced to reconnect with his father, and it’s through this absentee dad storyline that The Garfield Movie reveals a surprising amount of heart. Directed by Mark Dindal (Chicken Little, The Emperor’s New Groove), the film balances being cartoony and sweet, with some nice animation and character designs that are able match the original drawings.  It’s an enjoyable and often amusing adventure, that will entertain kids and should please fans of the orange cat.

Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)

The Garfield Movie opens exclusively in theatres on May 24th.