by Louise Cairns

Created on: November 06, 2009   Last Updated: November 07, 2009

I have to admit from the start I wasn't that keen on the original Garfield movie, I don't think it transferred very well from a comic strip to a film. But the kids enjoyed it, and so we had to watch Garfield 2 as well.

== Synopsis ==

Garfield is not the only over pampered, over weight cat on earth, in fact he has a doppelganger in the guise of Prince, heir to the Carlyle Castle. Lord Dargis isn't too pleased about this as he had expected to inherit the estate, so when he hears that it's been left to a cat, he makes plans to get rid of it.

Unluckily for Lord Dargis his plan starts goes awry when John decides to follow Liz to London, and then Garfield tags along. Garfield gets mistaken for Prince who's been missing for a few hours, and whisked off to a lap of luxury, only to find Lord Dargis is out to get him.

== Cast ==

Breckin Meyer as Jon Arbuckle

Jennifer Love Hewitt as Dr. Liz Wilson

Billy Connolly as Lord Dargis

Bill Murray as the voice of Garfield

Tim Curry as the voice of Prince

Bob Hoskins as the voice of Winston

Ian Abercrombie as Smithee

Roger Rees as Mr. Hobbs

Lucy Davis as Ms. Abby Westminister

Rhys Ifans as the voice of McBunny

Oliver Muirhead as Mr. Greene

Vinnie Jones as the voice of Rommel

Joe Pasquale as the voice of the rat

== My Thoughts ==

Whether it's in person of just voice acting, there's quite a big name cast here, although the voice of Bob Hoskins irritated me the whole way through, not because it was bad, but because I just couldn't remember who the actor was. And every time the dog spoke it started the cogs whirling again (not that it did any good). I thought John Cleese was quite good, he seemed in his element as the demented Dargis, and the character suited his style of acting. Jennifer Love Hewitt wasn't particularly good though, she was the weak link in the film, but luckily she only had a very small part.

As much as I dislike talking animal films, I have to admit that the effects in this film are quite good, and although Garfield and Prince look like cartoon cats (as they're supposed to), they fit in with the rest of the film quite nicely. I didn't however like watching the animals, including goats, horses, etc bowing and kneeling to order, they were real animals, and I don't think they should be made to act unnaturally for the amusement of humans.

They did get the animal's personalities right though, the boorish bulldog, nervous ducks, dumb Rottweiler, and nippy terrier all suited the animals.

As far as the story goes, it was just another take on the Prince and the Pauper story, and it's a pity American films all have to show England as being all fruit loop royals and dour butlers. They even had the usual 'let's make the Queen's guard laugh' routine that all comedy films/shows set in London have to do. It wasn't a brilliant film, but it wasn't a bad film either, the normal f@rting and belching gags made the kids laugh out loud as wind jokes normally do, and there were some other moments that made them laugh too.

I wouldn't recommend that anyone rushed out to buy or rent it, but if you come across it, it's not the worst film ever.

=== DVD Extras ===

The Nine Lives of Garfield

Drawing with Jim Davis: How To Draw Garfield, Odie and Pooky

Pen and Ink: Creating a Garfield Comic Strip

Exclusive Garfield Comic Strip

Working With Hot Dogs and Cool Kitties

Come and Get it Music Video

Garfield Maze Game Odie's Photo Album

Learn more about this author, Louise Cairns.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.