Why does the Garfield Movie have a Long Lost Father subplot? 

I maintain that a better voice for Garfield could’ve been Nick Offerman. He can nail that sarcastic deadpan delivery perfectly.

Not that I have an irrational Twitter hatred for Chris Pratt, but if they REALLY wanted a Parks & Rec star to voice Garfield, Nick Offerman was RIGHT THERE!

The weird thing about the “Garfield’s dad” plot is that I came up with something similar in the seventh grade.

If there was a scene of Garfield shipping nermal off to Abu Dhabi it would’ve been great

“Did you pick the celebrity cast first and then build characters around them?” Good old Hollywood mentality.

I think you put it right: Not AWFUL, but hardly memorable.

This kinda reminds me of what happened with the Grinch. They’re both cynical/mean characters that debuted in a book/comic, had a live action movie(s) adaptation starring some big named comedic actors that was panned by critics and was focusing on pandering to the lowest common denominator. Then half a decade later a big budget animated film(also starring some big named celebrities at the time) comes out that’s slightly “better” than its predecessor but is very safe, bland and sucks any of the traits that those iconic characters have been known for in order to make them “likable” and appeal to kids, removing what makes them so iconic in the first place.

I'd have at least cast John DiMaggio as Garfield. He's been doing sarcastic cartoon voices for decades, he'd have knocked this out of the park.

The wholesome moments in the original strip only WORK because he's such a little jerk most of the time otherwise

I'm recording in a tent so you will hear birds. Also yes the first upload had an audio gap.

"About as good as good as a silent sidekick has ever been" Gromit casually being the GOAT in this department

It would’ve been saved if Garfield referenced the whole “Drug out into the street and shot” catchphrase from Garfield and Friends /s

I really think there is a strong middle ground where you can keep the lost kitten angle and the abandon father. Just don't have the whole mafia or heist angle. Have it be a story where Garfield is living his life and his father comes back into it suddenly. And then you can still grow that relationship between Garfield and Jon as Garfield now has his biological father in his life to compare Jon too. I just don't get having to have him go on all these adventures when Garfield's best stories are very down to earth

The fact that Nermal was in the last 60 seconds for only 3 seconds of the final scene hurt too much.

Kinda sad tgat they keep doing these celebrity movies. I just want actual voice actors to do it. Don't get me wrong I don't mind a celeb cameo but almoste tge entire cast every movie 🫠

"If I had a nickel for every time Garfield had a film where he temporarily ended up in a pound, I'd have two nickels..."

When I was a kid, Garfield was one of the funniest things to me. I remember my mom got me this big book of Garfield comic strips, and whenever I read it, I would have to bite my tongue to stop myself from laughing too loud.

Fun Fact: This is the second time in Garfield media where we get to see his parents. The first time was with “Garfield On The Town” where we get to see him reunite with his mother.

At least it better than Chicken Little given Mark Dindal, who made Emperor’s New Groove and Cats Don’t Dance, directed this film and his first in almost 20 years

Between this and Chicken Little; Mark Dindal doesn't work quite well when studio execs are breathing down his neck. His films are arguably at their best when he (and his team) is allowed to be creative and wacky Looney Tunes type (i.e. Emperor's New Groove and Cats Don't Dance (which I still have yet to watch)).

Better than the live action versions but I wish we got more of Liz, Nermal, and Arlene

Oddly enough "Heathcliff" had missing daddy issues.

You could still have an adventurous road trip slash heist film with Garfield and make it work. You just have to have the story and action happen AROUND him. Beavis and Butt-Head did this perfectly, twice!

2:31: Garfield's mom was established to be a stray and there was a 2d animated special where he got lost with Odie and reunited with her in the 80's, why wasn't this an extended version of that, or how about a feature length version of Garfield and his 9 lives, that would have been fun.

Let's re-watch this upload because there was a weird vowel of silence in the video. Strange wasn't it

Mark Dindal is still getting work and I love that.

I think they made the dad because they wanted to hit the same emotional beats as the mom episode in the show, but since the mom was a noble figure and moms arent usually the deadbeats they invented Vic to have a character with flaws

Considering Garfield (both the character and the comic strip) was deliberately made to be as marketable as possible, it’s very bizarre hardly any of the adaptations come anywhere close to what Garfield is. Only Garfield & Friends really got what made Garfield Garfield in my opinion, while still having enough differences to make the characters work outside the confines of a comic strip.

Pity. I mean, I'm glad to hear that the film isn't that bad. But I do agree that Garfield deserves better than this.

"The Garfield movie is not very Garfield." Hard to name a lot of adaptations where the live action version could be described the same as the later animated adaptation.

This Garfield ain't Garfing

Chris Pratt is becoming to animated adaptations what James Corden is to movie musicals

Garfield has been very aggresive in the comics Like sending Nermal to Abu Dali because yes, once tearing off Jon's lips offscreen trashing the house, messing with odie He can be as passive or as aggresive as needed

Garfield did actually have a long-lost parents Plot line once "Garfield on the Town" Although It focused more on his mom.

Yeah the worst part is the characters they chose would have been awesome if they used characters from the comics and tv show

I grew up with Lorenzo Music era Garfield and I own all of the CBS primetime specials on DVD but, as someone with no kids who is pushing 50, the only Garfield movie I'd pay to see at this point in my life would be a finished version of Garfield's Judgment Day, the missing piece of classic 2D animated Garfield.

I believe another comment said it best: Pratt is now the James Cordon of animated movies. It's getting harder and harder to avoid him. Granted, I don't think Pratt is awful here, but there's definitely something off in his version of Garfield. The ironic thing is that these big name Hollywood stars CAN actually be good in animated movies... if they try. But it's clear most see it as "lesser" or "just a paycheck". No variety in terms of their energy or inflection. I mean, look at Chris Pratt, then compare him to someone like Jack Black, Mathew Lillard, or hell, Vincent Price. Price only had one animated film to his credit (The villain in Disney's Great Mouse Detective) but he knocked it out of the park and was clearly very passionate about it.

For some reason my local library growing up had like. ALL OF GARFIELD archived. I read it all one summer when I was very young. It was. so. many. books. It was it's own little section.

I'm just sick of these remake/reboot/whatever the hell people want to call these movies being "Passable". The companies play it so safe , they make nothing worth watching. The fact that I saw a Garfield movie and felt NOTHING, is the reason I don't care for it.

Its kind of ironic thay the plot of the lego movie is emmet/chriss pratt being the most wonder bread guy... and then you have garfield and mario being wonder breadified. Im happy to make garfield a bit nicer but you can still have him be an asshole but with better moments. That yknow, they have done at times with his character in the past.

So they introduced a parent figure for Garfield but also made him lose his bad attitude? That's literally the best opportunity to have him give people attitude. Can you imagine what it would be like to suddenly have his father scolding him for is indifference and sarcasm when he's been using it freely his entire life? Missed opportunity for sure.

The movie feels like a modern version of the emperor's new groove rather than Garfield despite the fact it's the same director Mark Dindal.

Yeah, the current Garfield movie is like a holiday Monday, but the Bill Murray one from 2004 is a normal Monday, and the 2006 sequel is a Monday that never ends.

People garfield is lazy by choice But he can be just as hyperactive as odie He harasses mailmans, destroys houses, fights dogs and one of his old lives killed his owner after contacting with some weird entity Garfield going on a heist for milk isn't that weird In the comics he once ate a piece of the moon. (Yeah that happened) Also funny trivia the comic had garfield meet his long Lost mother While garfield's father only appeared in some slightly obscure pieces of merch, where the father was gray

I mean, the Mario movie actually felt like Mario because Miyamoto and Nintendo had such a hand in the film’s development. Garfield!2024 just seems to be lacking what makes Garfield GARFIELD

Her mentioning the amazing Super Eyepatch Wolf video almost makes me want to see the two of them crossover. Or maybe I just love that Garfield video.

I gotta say, my theater was packed, but you'd be amazed at how quiet it got, especially during the comedic stingers. Honestly, it may not be the worst movie out there, but it felt INSANELY hamfisted and boring. My biggest problem aside from the horrendous pacing, blatant advertising and of course the choice of Chris Pratt as Garfield, is that it suffers IMMENSELY from tell don't show, to the point where it ruins every core aspect of the film, from the heart to the comedy, because the characters NEVER shut up or let anything sink in. It makes the movie DRAG when they have to explain literally EVERYTHING, especially when the dialogue is SO predictable that I could read the script before anything was said.

Yes, this movie is standard in terms of the films I've seen this year so far. But, at least we can (hopefully) agree that this is a very welcome return for Cats Don't Dance/Emperor's New Groove/and (shudders) Chicken Little director Mark Dindal after a near-20 year hiatus with a predictable, but fun script, cookie cutter characters with a decent cast (Odie was the best character, probably the smartest version of his that's ever existed. Mostly because he's the only character who can't talk, or, rather, doesn't), and animation that, while not on the same level as The Peanuts Movie, still gets the job done. 8.5/10

I'm convinced nobody will ever recapture the Garfield from Garfield and Friends

The only parent mentioned in Garfield lore is his mother. His mother appears in one of the Garfield short movies and says he was born in an Italian restaurant which makes sense to why he loves Italian food.

I think you got it right. This was a script for some other talking animals movie, and they just used Garfield IP for recognition

what's weird about the long lost father plot is that the 80s animated Garfield actually did the long lost Mom plot in a TV special so i guess whoever wrote this thought to instead see who his father was

I actually grew up with the new Garfield show. So, I don't have much a problem with it as much as everyone else.

5:49 You did not just insult The Garfield Show

I would have preferred a plot focusing on Jon and Garfield's relationship with each other, with classic sarcastic Garfield. Maybe have Garfield read Jon's comics (since he is a cartoonist) and have him get upset that Jon portrays him in such a negative light (which would be on brand for Garfield). I would have loved to see them expand on Jon's loneliness and eccentric personality traits, with both him and Garfield getting outside their comfort zone. One way they could do this is to have a plot involving something happening to Odie, since Jon and Garfield care about him. I'm spitballing ideas here, but I really could care less for the Dad OC in the movie. I hope he appears in the comics if they want to do more with him.

This feels like a Heathcliff movie that was just called Garfield cuz no one remembers Heathcliff

A bigger question is why make this movie? How many kids know who Garfield is? It's the same question I had for The Fall Guy movie.

Really, this was just something to do until Inside Out 2 is released.

I still think H. Jon Benjamin would’ve made a better Garfield.

You don't even need so much to make the movie more Garfield. Just read my pitch − More easter eggs. Just a little treat for the fans − Give Jon more screen time. I'm sorry, but showing some stupid and EXTREMELY short scenes of him just calling the pound asking for Garfield doesn't give him any spotlight. Instead, give him a complete subplot of trying to find Garfield and Odie, it doesn't need to be a big deal, just a 5 or 10-minute scene would be good. And actually, with this, You have two options: make him be completely alone, like at the beginning of the movie, which would technically be my choice, as it would open a parallel with his situation at the beginning of the movie and give him a nice arc, or perhaps, you can give more spotlight to Liz and maybe even add Lyman as a friend who is helping Jon to search for Garfield and Odie (and maybe make him more concerned about Odie for obvious reasons). − Make Garfield have more time to express his personality, and make him act more like himself in scenes. I mean, there are scenes where he shows more emotions, but they are scenes that the Garfield we know would react in a completely cynical and sarcastic way. So, make him act that way. And show him treating Odie more like a butler than a friend as well, but showing that he even cares about Odie − Arlene. I mean, it wouldn't be too much work, just to put her as Margie's pet (that lady from the Farm who chases Garfield) who helps her catch Garfield, but slowly, she falls in love with him and betrays Margie. It could open up a cool parallel with Otto's mission and make some funny scenes. In fact, it would be hilarious if she hit on Garfield, when he's not even paying attention to her. - Instead of Jinx, Nermal is the main antagonist here. Of course, his motivation would not be to seek revenge against Vic, for obvious reasons, but rather, he will carry out that entire plan just to make fun of Garfield, and to avoid going to the extreme, his plan does not involve throwing Garfield off a cliff, but rather, sending him to Abu Dhabi. This would still be true to his character and would be funny. If you want, we can keep Jinx as the main antagonist alongside Nermal; in fact, she would pretend to agree with Nermal's plan, but she has other plans (in this case, the plan we saw in the movie), and soon, Nermal realizes this and sees that it is getting out of control and going to extreme levels, so he starts trying to help Garfield, Odie, and Vic. ( Note: a minor detail, cast a CHILD to play Nermal. If you're going to deal with children in a movie, use the children in the movie.) You see? These are suggestions that would add more elements from the series, series characters, and make it more enjoyable for the fans, while maintaining the originality and introducing the new audience. Just that to say.

I'm possibly the only few who liked the Live action movie. (But only the first one!)

It's a fine movie, but if you know Garfield, the thought of "Garfield wouldn't do that" will cross your mind a lot.

This feels like one of those films where the sequel will be a sudden masterpiece with all the character development we need

Lorenzo music is spinning in his grave now, the older ones were much better

Can't wait for Garfield minus Garfield version of this

This is the earliest I have ever been to a cellspex video

Honestly I feel like the Garfield show voice of Frank Welker for Garfield would have worked better, because that voice genuinely is the one I associate with garfield.

lmao i just realized "cat who looks like an older version of garfield convinces Jon that hes garfield's dad and runs around annoying garfield" could actually be the plot of one of the episodes of the shows/comics and it would inevitibly end with garfield framing the fake dad for something that goes too far for Jon and he says something like "garfield i'm sorry but your dad has got to go" and garfield say something like "how come i can never get him to do that with odie?"

I had first watched the trailer with my brother and right before Garfield spoke, my brother said "Wouldn't it be funny if it was Chris Pratt?" Then he spoke...

What's with it and movies giving existing characters a random dad to go on an adventure with? I've noticed its a common trope in animated movies.

as a fan of cats don’t dance (of which this shared the same director) I really like how snappy the dialogue is in some scenes of the movie. it’s just that the humor doesn’t really fit garfield that much. i kinda hold this in the same lane as the first sonic movie, as in, it’s not really a “garfield” movie, just a standard animated lost father movie that just so happens to include garfield, odie, and sometimes jon. (seriously, besides them, only *two* other characters from the comics appear.)

Cause we never meet Garfield's Dad before, this is to show us who is Dad is, we seen his whole family except his Dad, so we were probably wondering who his Dad was, Now we know.

0:06 Except the Mario movie was good even if you ignore the original.

Love the videos, man. Keep it up!!!

I remember when the Mario movie came out and people were annoyed Chris Pratt wasn't doing the Mario voice. The commercial scene showed that he is capable of doing a pretty decent Mario voice. I'm guessing producers or executives or even the directors just wanted the performance to sound more like Chris Pratt for the sake of starpower rather than being an accurate portrayal of the character. TLDR: Blame higherups for innaccurate voice acting, not the actors themselves.

I think that compared to the two live action films and the three animated films with Frank Welker, this was a breath of fresh air because it’s the only thing from the Garfield brand in the last four decades that has oozed with at least a level of passion. If I were to have made some changes, it would be to have Josh Radnor as Garfield and Rob Riggle as Jon and to showcase how Jon and Garfield communicate in the comics, but in a way that doesn’t make it seem like Jon has schizophrenia like the comics normally imply.

I think what Paramount meant by not wanting to focus on original movies that much and focus more on licensed movies is that they want to have original movies with licensed characters. I mean, the first Sonic movie is basically just a typical human helps alien get back home movie. And don’t even get me started on the Knuckles show.

It felt like Sony wanted to have their cake and eat it, because of the movie taking place on Colombia Pictures' 100 year. Honestly, looking at the concept artwork and storyboards, this film would've been completed in 2023, had they not changed the script (I hope we get a full archive copy of the original version soon) Garfield's father was originally implied to be a coward, due to exchange of over 2372 gallons of milk for Jinx, but as avoiding her deal, the criminally evil persian gives him a 72 hours out of his mercy, before he's alligator food. The original premise seem to have potenial, but i find it baffling how three storyboard leaks are the only ones found back in 2022. I'm a-ok with the adaptational backstory change (which should've implied that Vic was suppose to keep his kitten *Garfield* from being taken to a pet store, and probably both left themselves on the streets past two months before Luigi's closed down, where the mother and other relatives stayed behind) If you're going to have Garfield and Odie embark a dairy farm robbery (have Garfield climb net walls with his claws, or cleverly hide from security guards undercover from corners, something drastic you know!) I'm just spitballing for ideas. Also, wasn't Jon's father suppose to appear in the film from the concept art? Could've served Jon's side of the story, in finding Garfield and Odie on a wild goose chase, but there was barely an attempt.

Nothing wrong with middle of the road in this day and age honeslty

On John getting abused by Garfield, it's not impossible to write them to have completely contracting personalities, but still care for each other. Like Bart Simpson's relationship to Homer & / or Lisa. That it's a solid story arc right there.

I definitely had a Garfield phase as a kid, loved both Garfield and Friends and the Garfield Show (I was too young to recognize how terrible the animation was on that one, pretty hilarious looking back now) I guess I’m glad this movie isn’t terrible but it just seems forgettable, haven’t had any stronger reaction to the trailers than “oh that’s neat”

I personally like it. Just a simple comfort movie to relax to. The product placement and drones makes sense because modern Garfield comics criticize and joke about the nature of technology over reliance (only for some of them to fail because of waiting on hold or a loading screen) and speedy delivery. The movie feels like The Garfield Show, one of my most favorite shows (why are people saying the animation is terrible? Jimmy Neutron didn’t age well, and that’s not even getting to the DK cartoon). The jokes work, the parodies work, the emotions work, and the looming stakes work, so the movie works for me. 8/10.

Can we get that cybertech Garfield book as a movie? It'd at least turn heads.

At least it's more Garfield than a third of the shorts in Garfield: His 9 Lives

What I find especially amusing about this film's premise is that the comics did, at one point, have a long-lost *mother* arc for Garfield. He gets lost, finds her behind an abandoned pizzeria, and meets his grandpa. At no point, throughout the entirety of Garfield canon, do they ever discuss or reveal Garfield's dad. So at least this film isn't directly retconning the comic?

Did they make an imsorryjon reference?

Last I remember, whenever I watched: garfield in the rough, he has a mom that he hasn’t seen in years…even though he didn’t know about it at first.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If Chris Pratt just had to be in the Garfield movie, he would've been a much better Jon than Garfield

One of the problems with the Bill Murray movie is that they miscast Jon and Liz. Judge Reinhold would have been great as Jon and Jeanine G would be Liz.

2:55 "I was... so hungry. I'm sorry, Jon."

Big agree with you! Was hoping for more classic Garfield characters and tropes

Really good video! Its nice to see someone talking about Garfield instead of Furiosa for once. I agree, I did not watch Garfield but that's because I was turned off by the trailer and the idea of the dad subplot. The trailer didn't feel like something one would expect from a Garfield movie, so I was turned away from it. I'm disappointed to see I was right.

Was I the only one that was really bothered that Garfield knew the name of his father when he was just an infant? That doesn’t make sense to me

I was so sure there was a Garfield comic about him finding his dad?

I mean… why not? I really love parental related plots and is it weird for Garfield? Yeah. It was still fun, though. But his mom is RIGHT THERE and had the same dilemma of giving up Garfield for his sake so why create a dad for the same dilemma??

If you told me if this film is on Netflix as a stright to made movie I probably of believed you

6:05 fin.

Actually i really liked the dad subplot because it makes for a lot of good moments and a really interesting and sweet relationship

well at least it's better then the live action Garfield movie

The "long lost father" plot gets even weirder when you consider Garfield literally has a long-lost mom that he met in the comic strips and a tv special. They could have done something with that instead