"Garfield"
THE POPULAR comic strip Garfield gets cinematic treatment with this 20th Century Fox film about the orange, lazy, fat, lasagne-loving cat. And this big screen version is aimed mostly at the juniors though there will be something for adults to laugh at too.
Here the computer-generated animated chubby cat does not quite have the same charm and fine finish as say "Shrek" or that in "Lord of The Rings," but then Garfield is very endearing especially when he gets sarcastic and blasι.
While Garfield is the only one who is CGI, all other animals — dogs cats and rats — are real with sound sync so well done that you do get drawn into this charming, simple tale of friendship.
Affable Breckin Meyer plays Jon the bachelor who owns Garfield. And the two are alike living life singularly devoted to themselves, till Jon takes Garfield to his vet, Liz Wilson (Jennifer love Hewitt), for a check up. Which is when he realises that he has a crush on her. But how is he to tell her that?
For her part, Liz feels that Jon is a loving man as far as animals are concerned and requests him to provide a home for a talented dancing dog.
Jon, to please Liz, begins to shower attention on Odie, which annoys Garfield.
Odie not only cramps Garfield's style but even steals his lasagna dinner. The last straw is when Jon takes Odie along for a date with Liz.
There is also an ambitious, but poorly talented kiddy show host, Happy Chapman, who is looking for a change from his routine with cats who he is allergic to.
In an act of meanness one day, Garfield locks Odie out and Odie lands up in someone else's house. The owner puts up a sign to report the missing dog. Chapman claims Odie to be his and takes the dog away for a fresh act.
The rest is easy to guess. Garfield has a change of heart and sets about trying to find and rescues Odie.
The voice of Bill Murray suits the droll cat. This film, directed by Peter Hewitt, makes for an irresistible viewing.
CHITRA MAHESH
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