For fans, the cat’s meow

Garfield: The Movie
PG
Starting tomorrow at area theaters
Two-and-a-half reels out of four

Garfield, the tubby feline who never met a plate of lasagna he didn’t like, has finally made it to the big screen. The only surprise is that it didn’t happen sooner. And, although no one would peg it for an instant classic, Garfield: The Movie is quite entertaining in its own way.

Except for Garfield — a creation of computer-graphics imagery voiced by Bill Murray — the film is live action.

When the cat’s owner, Jim (Breckin Meyer), takes him for a routine checkup at the vet, the two get more than they bargained for. The good doctor (Jennifer Love Hewitt), on whom Jim has had a crush since high school, convinces him to take home an adorable puppy.

Odie, as this new houseguest is called, steals away Jim’s attention and makes Garfield very jealous — so jealous that one night Garfield "accidentally" leaves Odie outside, causing him to run away. But the big cat eventually regrets his selfish action and braves the dangers of the city to rescue Odie.

One criticism often leveled at adaptations — whether they are classic novels or kitschy TV shows — is that they aren’t faithful enough to the source material. Although some artistic license is permissible, even necessary sometimes, this is a valid criticism. But die-hard Garfield fans worried that Hollywood would butcher their favorite comic strip can rest easy. The movie is faithful to the spirit of the cartoon and then some.

The rendering of Garfield himself is particularly true to the comics. Borrowing a page from Scooby-Doo, the filmmakers decided to make a CGI version of their star opposite live actors. Unlike Scooby (who’s downright spooky), the computer-generated version of Garfield is the second-best thing about the movie.

The first would be Murray. This won’t exactly get him another Oscar nomination, like his sublime performance in last year’s Lost in Translation, but if typecasting were a category, he would win the award for sure. Murray has proven he can really act, but his identity remains that of the loveable schmo who thinks the world owes him a living. And if that doesn’t describe Garfield, then what does?

There is a plot, of course; just enough so the movie doesn’t get too boring, but not too much to distract from Garfield. There is also a pleasant little love story that, like the plot, tries not to get in the way.

Although some of the comic strip’s fans might complain that Odie should be animated, Garfield’s interactions with the real dog that plays his rival add much to the movie.

In the world of kids’ flicks, Garfield: The Movie is a notch or two below the cream of the crop, but few could match its faithfulness to the original source material. Garfield would approve.

Recommended rental

Spartan
R
Available Tuesday

David Mamet wrote and directed Spartan, his ninth movie as a director. Val Kilmer plays Robert Scott, a respected Secret Service agent who has been asked to find the missing daughter of a high-ranking political official. With the help of rookie Curtis (Derek Luke), Scott stumbles onto a human trafficking operation that may lead to her kidnappers. Scott and Curtis are forced to quit the investigation when the media reports Laura’s death. Believing her to be alive, Curtis starts up a perilous unsanctioned inquiry of his own.

Movie schedules until June 17 unless otherwise indicated.
Call theaters for updates.

SOUTH PHILLY

United Artists Riverview Plaza
Columbus Blvd. and Reed St.
215-755-2219

*The Chronicles of Riddick (PG-13)
Fri.-Tue.: 11:05 a.m., 12:45, 1:55, 3:45, 4:45, 6:45, 7:45, 9:45, 10:35

*Garfield (PG)
Fri.-Tue.: 11:10 a.m., 12:05, 1:30, 2:30, 3:50, 4:40, 6, 7, 9:15

*The Stepford Wives (PG-13)
Fri.-Tue.: 11:15 a.m., 12:15, 1:45, 2:45, 4:15, 5:15, 7:10, 7:40, 9:30, 10:15

*Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (PG)
Thu.: 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12, 12:30, 1:10, 1:40, 2:10, 2:40, 3:10, 3:40, 4:20, 4:50, 5:20, 5:50, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30, 9:40, 10:10, 10:40
Fri.-Thu.: 11 a.m., 12, 12:30, 1:10, 1:40, 2:10, 3:10, 3:40, 4:20, 4:50, 5:20, 6:30, 7:30, 8, 8:30, 9:40, 10:40

*The Day After Tomorrow (PG-13)
Thu.: 11 a.m., 12, 1, 1:30, 2, 3, 4, 4:30, 5, 6:15, 7, 7:30, 8, 9:15. 10, 10:30, 11
Fri.-Thu.: 1, 4, 7:05, 8:10, 10, 10:50

*Soul Plane (R)
Thu.: 1:15, 3:30, 5:45, 7:55, 10:15
Fri.-Tue.: 7:55, 10:20

*Shrek 2 (PG)
Thu.: 11:10 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 12:10, 12:40, 1:45, 2:15, 2:50, 3:20, 4:40, 5:10, 5:40, 7:20, 7:45, 8:20, 9:45, 10:20, 10:45
Fri.-Tue.: 11:40 a.m., 12:10, 12:40, 2:15, 2:50, 3:20, 4:35, 5:10, 5:40, 7:20, 8:20, 9:35, 10:45

*Troy (R)
Thu.-Tue.: 12:25, 4:05, 7:50

*Van Helsing (PG-13)
Thu.: 4:10, 6:55, 9:50
Fri.-Thu.: 6:50, 9:50

*Mean Girls (PG-13)
Thu.: 11:35 a.m., 2:05, 4:45, 7:10, 9:35
Fri.-Mon.: 11:35 a.m., 2:05, 4:30, 7:15, 9:55
Tue.: 11:35 a.m., 2:05, 10:30

*Raising Helen (PG-13)
Thu.: 11:25 a.m., 2:20, 4:55, 7:25, 10:05 (Ends 6/10)

CENTER CITY

Ritz at the Bourse
400 Ranstead St.
215-925-7900

*Saved! (PG-13)
Fri.-Thu.: 12:45, 3:15, 5:30, 7:40, 10

*Sea Gull’s Laughter (NR)
Fri.-Thu.: 12:20, 2:55, 5:10, 7:20

*Strayed (NR)
Thu.-Thu.: 12:50, 3, 5:20, 7:25, 9:40

*Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (R)
Thu.-Thu.: 12:15, 2:40 5:10, 7:30, 9:55

*Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…Spring (R)
Thu.-Tue.: 12:30, 2:50, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Wed.-Thu.: 12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 10

*Monsieur Ibrahim (R)
Thu.: 1, 5:30, 7:40 (Ens 6/10)

*Saddest Music in the World (NR)
Thu.: 12:20, 2:40, 4:50, 10 (Ends 6/10)

*Monty Python: Life of Brian (R)
Thu.: 3:15, 9:50 (Ends 6/10)

Ritz 5
214 Walnut St.
215-925-7900

*My Mother Likes Women (NR)
Fri.-Thu.: 12:20, 2:40, 5:20, 7:40, 9:55

*Baadasssss! (R)
Fri.-Thu.: 12, 2:30, 5:10, 7:30, 10

*Control Room (NR)
Fri.-Thu.: 1:15, 3:20, 5:30, 7:35, 9:35

*Since Otar Left (NR)
Fri., Sun.-Tue.: 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 7:20, 9:50
Sat.: 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 9:50
Wed.-Thu.: 12:15, 2:40, 4:50, 10

*Coffee and Cigarettes (R)
Fri.-Sun., Wed.-Thu.: 12:50, 3:05, 5:25, 7:45, 9:55
Mon.-Tue.: 12:50, 2:50, 4:50, 10

Ritz East
Second Street between Chestnut
and Walnut
215-925-7900

*Super Size Me (NR)
Thu.-Mon., Thu.: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:50
Tue.-Wed.: 12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 10

*Carandiru (R)
Thu.: 12:20, 3:25, 10
Fri.-Thu.: 3:40, 9:30

*Saddest Music in the World (NR)
Fri.-Thu.: 1:10, 7

Roxy Theater
2023 Sansom St.
215-923-6699

*Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (PG-13)
Thu.: 1, 3, 4:15, 6:15, 7:30, 9:30
Fri.-Thu.: 11:45 a.m., 1, 3, 4:15, 6:15, 7:30, 9:30