If Garfield hated Mondays before, it’s only going to get worse now. What was at one time a 67% Tomatometer reading disappeared faster than Garfield can eat a family-sized serving of hot, delicious lasagna. Before the domestic embargo forThe Garfield Movielifted in the United States, the animated adventure starringChris Prattwas already struggling with international critics. But now the bottom has completely fallen out as the film’sRotten Tomatoesscore nosedives all the way to 52% as the latest reviews start to pile up.Frank Scheckof The Hollywood Reporter writes:
None of these meta references will be entertaining for the very young target audience, nor are they amusing for their adult chaperones. It’s indicative of the laziness and cynicism permeating this enterprise.
Kate Erblandof IndieWire demands an explanation when it comes to whatThe Garfield Movieis supposed to be and says:
Is this a kid’s movie or a commercial? And if it’s the latter, a commercial for what exactly? Certainly not more movies like this.
The Garfield Movie
Based on Jim Davis’s comic series, Garfield is a new imagining of the lasagna-loving cat and his friends, opting for a fully computer-animated approach. Chris Pratt voices the titular cat, with the film aiming to explore his early days and new misadventures for him, his friends, and his family.
A.A. Dowdof IGN writes:
Kids might be mildly entertained, but that doesn’t make this less of a hairball.
The Garfield Movieis the first time the fat, orange tabby Persian cat has appeared on the Silver Screen in almost 20 years. Bill Murray voiced Jim Davis’ lasagna-loving creation in the live-action/animatedGarfield: A Tale of Two Kitties(2006), which left a very bad-tasting hairball in the critics’ mouths. And the follow-up to 2004’sGarfield: The Moviein no way improved upon the original’s 14% Tomatometer rating — only scoring 12% itself. So, at least the Pratt-ledGarfieldadventure hasn’t reached those depressing depths yet.
The Garfield Movie: ‘A Terrible Monday of a Film’
The Garfield Movie’s67% Rotten Tomatoes scoreis a thing of the past. At the time of this writing, the film’s Tomatometer is “splatting” with no end in sight. And the critics are having a hard time finding much that is redeeming about the animated adventure outside of actor Chris Pratt’s performance.Carlos Aguilarof Variety writes:
A terrible Monday of a film for the orange tabby whose storied laziness over nearly 50 years has certainly earned him better.
Neil Smithof Total Film piles on by saying:
Stumbles at the same hurdle that has scuppered previous attempts to bring Garfield to the big screen: namely, the impracticality of crafting a satisfying full-length feature around a self-centered sourpuss.
Chris Pratt Says His Son Makes Fun of Him for Playing the ‘Weakest Avenger’
Garfield’s Chris Pratt jokes that he and his son’s ‘love language’ is teasing, and he gets roasted for his portrayal of Star Lord in the MCU.
However, there is a glimmer of light shinning through the shadows of the endless critiques forThe Garfield Movie. For instance,Tessa Smithof Mana’s Geeky didn’t hate the film and writes in her review:
“The animation is gorgeous, and the story is cute enough,but this is veryclearly a kids movieversus a family movie. Younger audiences will be invested in the story and bright colors, whileolder audiences could get bored and feel the absence of Jon.”
The Garfield Moviestill has the fact that it is a family-friendly alternative going for it as the animated adventure eyes its impendingbox-office showdown withFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagaover the Memorial Day weekend. However, the reigning No. 1 movie in cinemas, which is John Krasinski’sIF,will just be entering its second week of theatrical release. AndIFcould end up stealing some ofGarfield’saudience if these “splatting” reviews end up influencing moviegoers.
