Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 6

6/15/04

Films Reviewed: Around the World in 80 Days and Garfield

Commentary: The works of Bill Murray

Featurette: Behind the scenes of Garfield

Regarding Around the World in 80 Days:

Matt: If Jackie Chan wanted to make a film on the Jules Verne classic, then this is probably the best way he could have done it.  The cameo appearances are all at least amusing and Steve Coogan makes a good Fogg.  However, the actress playing Monique was terrible.  Plus, there are no bloopers in the closing credits.  But Jackie makes up for that with his French action sequence alone.  Three stars, but bolt the auditorium when the credits start to roll.

Aron: This really is a Jackie Chan movie for kids and the young at heart.  I enjoyed the surprise cameos and Steve Coogan's performance.  The set design was also really impressive.  This was a lot of fun to watch.  Three stars.

Average Rating: *** (out of ****)

Regarding Garfield:

Aron: What an insignificant movie.  Garfield has been gracing our comic pages for all these years, and his feature film debut lands harder than a big kitty litter.  The CGI furball of lasagna loving feline is, several times, upstaged by his real life canine co-star Odie.  The children in the audience I saw this with were bored out of their skulls (Matt: "Did they scream 'get me-owt of here?'"  Aron: "No, they were really cool cats").  Compared to Shrek 2, this is a poor excuse for family entertainment.  One star.

Matt: There is actually something worse than an out-and-out terrible movie: one that is out-and-out mediocre.  Garfield is that kind of movie.  It's inoffensive and occasionally amusing, but there really is no reason for this movie to exist.  Jim Davis has kept the strip going for twenty six years; why ruin its memory now?  Bill Murray is fine as the voice of our favorite fat cat, but he has no real story to work with.  One star.

Average Rating: * (out of ****)

Commentary:  "We're ready to believe you!"  Having reviewed Garfield, we decided to look at other works in Bill Murray's extensive career.  Highlights included Ghostbusters (this is the film's 20th anniversary), Caddyshack, Groundhog Day, Ed Wood and Lost in Translation.  

Featurette: Behind the scenes of Garfield, starring Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt and the voice of Bill Murray.