Garfield Gets Real (2007/Computer Animated Feature/Fox DVD)
Picture: C+ Sound: B- Extras: C+ Feature: C+
To stay
hip and keep up with new market trends, almost all the major cartoon characters
of the past are surfacing in CGI computer-made versions and Garfield Gets Real (2007) is the latest
such project as everyone’s favorite lazy cat in a slightly contrived piece
about the cat going into the “real” world, but it is a CGI one and all kids
stuff.
After two
features where he was CGI in a live action world, this seems more oddball, but
not furball as the 74 minutes is adequate at best and is at least an
alternative version of the character who has been around so long at this point,
that any different project seems to be worth trying. Amusing at times, for children, it will
depend on if they like the graphic approach or not. Old fans may have other issues.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 is not bad, but the animation can look pale
and images even dated. One could say
that about the older hand-animated episodes, but this is passable. The Dolby Digital 5.1 has some good surround
use, but is nothing spectacular. DTS
might have been a good idea here. Extras
include 2 DVD-ROM games, six featurettes about the making of the feature &
the character and a bloopers piece.
- Nicholas Sheffo
