The Garfield Movie – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Garfield Movie

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2024

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Garfield gets dragged into a heist with his deadbeat dad—it's harmless, forgettable, and critics hated it while kids shrugged 'sure, fine.'

36%

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The Garfield Movie

movie

PG, 2024

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Garfield gets dragged into a heist with his deadbeat dad—it's harmless, forgettable, and critics hated it while kids shrugged 'sure, fine.'

36%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is fine. It's not going to hurt anyone, it's not going to inspire anyone, it's just...fine. The massive gap between critic scores (36%) and audience scores (79%) tells you everything: kids will sit through it without complaining, but it's not actually good.

The father-son reunion premise has potential emotional weight, but the execution is apparently so bland that critics collectively shrugged. It's the kind of movie that exists to fill 90 minutes on a rainy Saturday when you need the kids occupied and they've already watched everything else twice.

If your kids love Garfield, they'll probably enjoy seeing him on screen. If they're ambivalent about orange cats who hate Mondays, there are dozens of better animated movies to watch first. It's harmless, wholesome enough, and completely forgettable—which honestly might be exactly what you need sometimes.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-10 who are still entertained by talking animal hijinks and haven't yet developed taste. Older kids will clock the formulaic plot immediately and ask to watch something else.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Features positive father-son reunion themes and friendship between Garfield and Odie. Models cooperation during the heist adventure. Tone is lighthearted and appropriate for families, though the 'pampered cat forced into danger' setup adds some mild peril. No meanness or cruelty beyond Garfield's signature sarcasm.

Imaginative

A heist adventure with a street cat premise offers some creative scenarios, but this is fundamentally a safe, formulaic animated movie following predictable beats. The 36% critic score and 2.5/5 Letterboxd rating suggest it doesn't break new ground or inspire much wonder. It's Garfield doing Garfield things in a slightly different setting—not particularly original or thought-provoking.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 7, suggesting mild action/peril typical of animated adventures. No indication of inappropriate content, scary imagery, or traumatic elements. The heist premise involves some cartoon danger but nothing shocking or unexpectedly intense. Standard animated fare with no red flags.

Enriching

The father-son reunion angle offers some emotional depth about family and second chances, but the 31 Metacritic score and poor critic reception suggest shallow execution. This is entertainment-first with minimal cognitive challenge or meaningful takeaways. Kids might enjoy the hijinks but won't walk away with much beyond 'lasagna cat goes on adventure.' The massive critic-audience gap (36% vs 79%) indicates it's watchable for kids but lacks substance.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Safe, predictable entertainment that won't traumatize anyone or teach bad lessons
Father-son reunion storyline has some heart, even if executed blandly
The 79% audience score means kids generally tolerate it without complaint
Garfield's sarcastic personality provides some humor for adults stuck watching

⚠

What to Watch For

Mild cartoon action/peril during heist sequences (age 7+ per Common Sense Media)
This is aggressively mediocre—the 36% critic score isn't a fluke, it's just not very good
May bore older kids or anyone who's seen literally any other animated adventure movie

Conversation Starters

"Garfield finally meets his dad after all these years—how do you think that felt for him?"
"Have you ever had to do something scary or uncomfortable with a friend, like Garfield and Odie?"
"Why do you think Garfield loves being pampered so much? What would you miss most if you had to leave home for an adventure?"

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