SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: GARFIELD: A TAIL OF TWO KITTIES

"GARFIELD: A TAIL OF TWO KITTIES"
(2006) (Breckin Meyer, voice of Bill Murray) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Moderate	Minor	Heavy	*Mild	Moderate

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	Minor	Mild	Minor

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
*Mild	None	Minor	Moderate	Moderate

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: A sardonic and lazy American cat finds his appetite and need for pampering fulfilled when he's mistaken for a pompous, missing English cat that's recently inherited a vast fortune and estate.

PLOT:

Garfield (voice of BILL MURRAY) is a fat, lazy and sardonic cat who thinks he's master of his domain, especially considering that his animal companion is the dimwitted dog Odie. Then there's the fact that his human owner, Jon Arbuckle (BRECKIN MEYER) is completely fixated on trying to figure out how and when to ask veterinarian Liz Wilson (JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT) to marry him.

Just when he's about to pop the question, Liz gets an invite to speak at an animal conference outside London. Realizing he can't miss his opportunity, Jon hops the next plane across the pond, unaware that Garfield and Odie have stowed away in his luggage.

Not far away, Prince the cat (voice of TIM CURRY) truly is king of his castle as he's just inherited his late owner's entire estate, much to the dismay of the woman's greedy nephew, Dargis (BILLY CONNOLLY), who wants to turn the place into a resort. Accordingly, and keeping his actions secret from Prince's faithful human servant Smithee (IAN ABERCROMBIE), Dargis bags Prince, drops him in the nearby river and goes about with his plans.

As Prince's animal subjects, including bulldog Winston (voice of BOB HOSKINS), try to find their leader, Smithee happens to spot Garfield in London, mistakes him for Prince, and returns him to the castle. Garfield initially thinks the worst, but when he realizes the royal treatment he's receiving -- including all the food he could want -- he changes his mind and quickly adopts to the posh lifestyle.

Similarly mistaking Garfield for Prince, Dargis then sets out to do what he can to get rid of the cat, including siccing attack dog Rommel (voice of VINNIE JONES) on him. At the same time, Jon has found Prince and mistaken him for Garfield, all while still trying to find the nerve and right time to ask Liz to marry him. From that point on, the two cats must deal with their new surroundings, eventually realizing they need to get back to their respective homes.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're fans of the first film, they probably will.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For some off-color elements.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: GARFIELD is the lazy and sardonic American cat who stows away on a flight with Jon to London where he ends up being mistaken for a royal feline. He then takes advantage of his newfound respect from the humans and animals alike, letting his new status go to his head - and belly -- before eventually realizing he misses and needs to get back to Jon.
BRECKIN MEYER plays his milquetoast human owner who follows Liz to London where he tries to get up the courage to ask her to marry him. He also mistakes Prince for Garfield.
JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT plays his pretty girlfriend, a friendly veterinarian who travels to London for a conference.
BILLY CONNOLLY plays a royal heir who's irked when he's passed over for his inheritance in favor of Prince. He then sets out to get rid of the cat, including repeated attempts to kill him, all so that he can develop the estate into a resort.
PRINCE is the royal if pompous cat who must deal with Dargis getting rid of him as well as Jon mistaking him for Garfield.
IAN ABERCROMBIE plays his loyal human servant who mistakes Garfield for him.
WINSTON is Prince's loyal bulldog servant who tries to find Prince when he realizes he's missing.
ROMMEL is the dimwitted dog who Dargis tries to train to attack and kill Prince (really Garfield).; BRECKIN MEYER plays his milquetoast human owner who follows Liz to London where he tries to get up the courage to ask her to marry him. He also mistakes Prince for Garfield.
JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT plays his pretty girlfriend, a friendly veterinarian who travels to London for a conference.
BILLY CONNOLLY plays a royal heir who's irked when he's passed over for his inheritance in favor of Prince. He then sets out to get rid of the cat, including repeated attempts to kill him, all so that he can develop the estate into a resort.
PRINCE is the royal if pompous cat who must deal with Dargis getting rid of him as well as Jon mistaking him for Garfield.
IAN ABERCROMBIE plays his loyal human servant who mistakes Garfield for him.
WINSTON is Prince's loyal bulldog servant who tries to find Prince when he realizes he's missing.
ROMMEL is the dimwitted dog who Dargis tries to train to attack and kill Prince (really Garfield).; JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT plays his pretty girlfriend, a friendly veterinarian who travels to London for a conference.
BILLY CONNOLLY plays a royal heir who's irked when he's passed over for his inheritance in favor of Prince. He then sets out to get rid of the cat, including repeated attempts to kill him, all so that he can develop the estate into a resort.
PRINCE is the royal if pompous cat who must deal with Dargis getting rid of him as well as Jon mistaking him for Garfield.
IAN ABERCROMBIE plays his loyal human servant who mistakes Garfield for him.
WINSTON is Prince's loyal bulldog servant who tries to find Prince when he realizes he's missing.
ROMMEL is the dimwitted dog who Dargis tries to train to attack and kill Prince (really Garfield).; BILLY CONNOLLY plays a royal heir who's irked when he's passed over for his inheritance in favor of Prince. He then sets out to get rid of the cat, including repeated attempts to kill him, all so that he can develop the estate into a resort.
PRINCE is the royal if pompous cat who must deal with Dargis getting rid of him as well as Jon mistaking him for Garfield.
IAN ABERCROMBIE plays his loyal human servant who mistakes Garfield for him.
WINSTON is Prince's loyal bulldog servant who tries to find Prince when he realizes he's missing.
ROMMEL is the dimwitted dog who Dargis tries to train to attack and kill Prince (really Garfield).; PRINCE is the royal if pompous cat who must deal with Dargis getting rid of him as well as Jon mistaking him for Garfield.
IAN ABERCROMBIE plays his loyal human servant who mistakes Garfield for him.
WINSTON is Prince's loyal bulldog servant who tries to find Prince when he realizes he's missing.
ROMMEL is the dimwitted dog who Dargis tries to train to attack and kill Prince (really Garfield).; IAN ABERCROMBIE plays his loyal human servant who mistakes Garfield for him.
WINSTON is Prince's loyal bulldog servant who tries to find Prince when he realizes he's missing.
ROMMEL is the dimwitted dog who Dargis tries to train to attack and kill Prince (really Garfield).; WINSTON is Prince's loyal bulldog servant who tries to find Prince when he realizes he's missing.
ROMMEL is the dimwitted dog who Dargis tries to train to attack and kill Prince (really Garfield).; ROMMEL is the dimwitted dog who Dargis tries to train to attack and kill Prince (really Garfield).

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

Here's a brief summary of the content found in this PG-rated comedy. A number of religious and colorful phrases are heard, while a song has sexual lyrics, but is played in a nonsexual scene (and most younger kids probably won't notice). Varying amounts of cleavage are present, classical statues show monochrome bare breasts, and a newspaper headline reads that a celebrity couple had a "love child."

Various bad attitudes are present, including a man who wants to kill a cat that inherited what he thought was his money. That involves comedy-based violence, although that man ends up getting most of the abuse (while other unrelated slapstick style material is present). Even so, some of that material and other moments might possibly be unsettling or suspenseful for some younger kids.

Some of that material may be enticing for some kids to imitate, several instances of crude humor are present, while some humans drink in a pub, other liquor is poured but not consumed, and a ferret is intoxicated from drinking cooking sherry.

Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Jon pours some wine into a carafe, but Garfield's loud music startles him, causing Jon to spill some of that wine onto his shirt.
Doing a bit from "The Silence of the Lambs," Garfield jokes about having liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti.
Dargis pours liquor for himself and a woman.
When an animal asks what's up with Garfield (thinking he's Prince acting strange), another announces that the leader's on the catnip again.
Miscellaneous people have beer in a pub.
Nigel the ferret drunkenly sings after having consumed a lot of cooking sherry (we see him next to the bottle looking intoxicated).
Dargis pours liquor for himself and Liz, but they don't have any.
Trying to distract a woman from seeing Garfield, Dargis tells her about having a cool, refreshing drink.

BLOOD/GORE: Crude humor includes the following:
Having stowed away in Jon's suitcase from America to London, Garfield comes out and complains about being stuck in there for thirteen hours with a farting dog. He then announces several things he needs, starting with a litter box.
Thinking it's a bath, Garfield jumps into a bidet and is then sprayed by the water. We then hear what sounds like a fart.
We see Odie peeing on a palace guard's boot.
After coming out of the London sewer system, Prince is covered with crud. We don't know what it is, but Jon reacts to the smell.
After asking Winston if a miniature castle makes his butt look big, Garfield farts in his face.
After being presented with a tray containing a log style piece of food (containing intestines) that's supposed to be a delicacy for him, Garfield sarcastically asks if a Great Dane lives there (meaning what it might have left on the lawn, regarding the size of that log).

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Garfield generally is self-centered and doesn't particularly like anyone else.
Upset that Prince inherited the estate and money, Dargis repeatedly tries to kill the cat (including when he mistakes Garfield for the royal kitty). He starts by scooping him up in a basket and then throwing him into a river.
When Prince ends up missing, a conceited parrot thinks he's in charge.
Dargis wants to develop the estate grounds into a resort and says that whatever animals they can't chase away, they'll feed to their guests.
Dargis tries to hit on Liz (romantically), but Garfield puts an end to that.
Past the breaking point, Dargis holds an armed crossbow at four humans, and then takes Liz hostage.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Younger kids may find some/all of the following as unsettling or suspenseful, but older kids and adults probably won't.
We see Dargis doing some skeet shooting with a shotgun. He briefly aims that at two animals, but doesn't shoot them.
Upset that Prince inherited the estate and money, Dargis repeatedly tries to kill the cat (including when he mistakes Garfield for the royal kitty). He starts by scooping him up in a basket and then throwing him into a river and later tries to sic Rommel on him (it's all played for comedy, but it might be upsetting for some kids).
Realizing Prince (really Garfield) is still alive, Dargis grabs a sharp letter opener to use on the cat (but doesn't get around to doing so).
Past the breaking point, Dargis holds an armed crossbow at four humans, but Odie ends up biting him on his clothed butt, causing the crossbow to fly into the air (Jon catches it and aims it at him). But Dargis then grabs a small display gun mounted on a desk mount and takes Liz hostage. A ferret, however, runs up his leg (presumably biting him), with Jon then punching Dargis in the face, knocking him out.

GUNS/WEAPONS: We see Dargis doing some skeet shooting with a shotgun. He briefly aims that at two animals, but doesn't shoot them.
Some guards carrying ceremonial swords.
Dargis races out with a ball and chain trying to find Garfield, but Rommel then ends up chasing him around the courtyard, while other animals fire clay pigeons (used in skeet shooting) at him.
Past the breaking point, Dargis holds an armed crossbow at four humans, but Odie ends up biting him on his clothed butt, causing the crossbow to fly into the air (Jon catches it and aims it at him). But Dargis then grabs a small display gun mounted on a desk mount and takes Liz hostage. A ferret, however, runs up his leg (presumably biting him), with Jon then punching Dargis in the face, knocking him out.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Oh, it's good to be king," "You poor sap," "You moron," "They'll never take me alive," "Maybe get a brain transplant," "You can stop sucking up," "Fat ball of fur," "Relax, bro," "I think that went frightfully well," "Poo-poo," "What the devil (is a Garfield)?" "Bon voyage, Prince," "Laddie," "Birds" (women), "Any cuter and I'm going to need a barf bag," "She's a man-eater," "Crikey," "Okay, blockhead," "Too bad Jon's not a queen" (said by Garfield about royalty), "Stuck up little punk," "Is that cologne or a disinfectant?" "Holy cow," "What a dope," "(Listen) Windbag," "Is this an audience or a landscape?" "He's on the catnip again," "You idiots," "You dolt," "You dunce," "I could do some snoozing here," "Does this castle make my butt look big?" "Please sir, may I have some more?" "We've mucked it up," "Buffoon," "That royal sleaze," "Mr. piñata head," "There's more than one way to skin a royal cat," "Drool boy," "Save your breath, chubby cheeks," "Button the beak, fruit loops," "We kick royal butt," "You girlie dog," "Silly sissy dog," "Bozo," "He's a bit of a tool, don't you think?" "You'll be salsa dancing in your knickers," "I've got two words for you -- me-yow," and "Your lunatic dog just bit my butt."
Some kids may be enticed to imitate Garfield's demeanor and/or behavior.
Some may also try to imitate Fargis and his attempts to kill the cat(s).
Garfield lets out a loud belch.
Garfield announces that he has a pie belch coming out that will break Smithee's windows, and we then hear the loud belch.
Garfield makes the "crazy" gesture by spinning his finger around in circles next to his head.
Dargis tries to get Rommel (a large dog) to attack Garfield (thinking he's Prince) by having him tear up a pillow containing the cat's scent.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A little bit of suspenseful music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): A song by the Black Eyed Peas has lyrics "Shake it girl" and "Pump it" (played in a lasagna making montage).

PROFANITY: At least 4 uses of "Good Lord" and 1 use each of "God," "Oh good Lord" and "Oh my God.'

SEX/NUDITY: Some parents may view the following as "moderate" as compared to "mild" as rated here.
Liz shows cleavage in several outfits (sometimes a fair amount).
Liz briefly gives Jon a passionate kiss before leaving.
A woman shows some cleavage.
Several classical style statues show bare breasts or otherwise scantly covered female bodies (all single-tone in terms of color for both the "skin" and clothing, but nothing explicit or the focus of the actual shot).
A song by the Black Eyed Peas has lyrics "Shake it girl" and "Pump it" (played in a lasagna making montage).
We see Dargis wearing a series of connected metal plates over his clothed crotch (while trying to train Rommel).
We briefly see a newspaper headline that reads "Gwynne and Jacko have love child" (the first name may be spelled differently).
Trying to distract a woman from seeing Garfield, Dargis tells her that with something she'll be "salsa dancing in your knickers."

SMOKING: None.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Fargis' aunt has died, but he doesn't care as he wants his inheritance.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: There's brief mention that a woman has passed away and that Prince (her cat) has inherited her estate and money.
We briefly see a newspaper headline that reads "Gwynne and Jacko have love child" (the first name may be spelled differently).

VIOLENCE: All of the following is played for comedy.
Odie runs over Garfield to get to the car, causing the latter's face to be planted down into the ground.
Upset that Prince inherited the estate and money, Dargis repeatedly tries to kill the cat. He starts by scooping him up in a basket and then throwing him into a river.
Exhausted from serving Garfield (as Prince), Smithee falls backwards to the floor (played for comedy and we don't see the impact).
Garfield purposefully slides through a room filled with statues, vases and more. He ends up breaking numbers of both, including causing statues to fall (and break) domino style.
An animal leaves a mousetrap near Dargis, causing it to snap on his hand.
Having been conditioned to go after his clothes, Rommel races up and bites Dargis' covered crotch.
A parrot is accidentally sucked up a kitchen exhaust chute (played for laughs as he's a conceited character -- and we hear him hit something in it).
Preparing to go out the window, Prince ends up falling from it (several stories but he lands in some bushes and is okay).
Needing a ride back to his castle, Prince jumps from a bridge down to a large boat passing by on the river below him (and he lands hard on the surface, but is okay).
Dargis bags Garfield (thinking he's Prince) and then throws him into the castle's dungeon (the bag and cat land hard on the stone floor).
Dargis falls to a bed, the large canopy above it falls on him, and he then ends up tumbling down some steps with that still on him (played for slapstick).
Some animals cause Dargis to run face-first into a knight in shining armor's shield (that knocks him out).
Dargis races out with a ball and chain trying to find Garfield, but Rommel then ends up chasing him around the courtyard, while other animals fire clay pigeons (used in skeet shooting) at him.
Past the breaking point, Dargis holds an armed crossbow at four humans, but Odie ends up biting him on his clothed butt, causing the crossbow to fly into the air (Jon catches it and aims it at him). But Dargis then grabs a small display gun mounted on a desk mount and takes Liz hostage. A ferret, however, runs up his leg (presumably biting him), with Jon then punching Dargis in the face, knocking him out.
Garfield and Prince knock a parrot backwards with a pillow.
Garfield kicks Odie off a sofa and then whacks him with a drumstick (during the end credits).

Reviewed June 10, 2006 / Posted June 16, 2006

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.