Garfield 2: A Tail of Two Kitties

Director: Tim Hill
Screenwriters: Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow
Starring: Bill Murray, Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Billy Connolly
Running time: 78 mins
Certificate: U

Cartoon-strip cat Garfield is transported to an English castle in a Prince and the Pauper-style predicament for his second cinematic adventure. When his enthusiastic owner Jon Arbuckle (Meyer) follows his girl Liz Wilson (Hewitt) across the Atlantic, his pet becomes swapped with Prince, the feline owner of a castle. Once there, Garfield must stop the scheming Lord Dargis (Connolly) from getting his hands on the estate.

Garfield 2 to a great extent follows in the pawsteps of its predecessor - it's a long, long way from being a masterpiece, but does its job as a kid's movie, and really only in the strictest sense of the phrase. If anyone, it will only truly satisfy smaller children, but it does well not to stretch the patience of parents, given its short 78 minutes running time.

In terms of plot, there's little to interest anyone, as it goes through phases ranging from silly to ludicrous, though the writers don't really seem too bothered about the fact. Humour-wise, it does a little better, featuring plenty of slapstick fun for the kids and, while there are plenty of jokes that fall flat, there are just enough that hit home to make life bearable for adults.

In theory, Bill Murray is an excellent casting for Garfield. His deadpan delivery has previously made a film much more than it would have otherwise been, but deprived of his facial expression and provided with uninspired lines, he fails to do what he does best. Tim Curry, who plays Garfield's doppelganger, is much more enjoyable, uncoincidentally getting the better deal in terms of writing - in fact it often feels like the eponymous hero isn't the centre of the film at all.

Some other enjoyable voice performances come from the likes of Bob Hoskins, Vinnie Jones, Sharon Osbourne and Rhys Ifans, whilst Billy Connolly's Dargis is far and away the most entertaining and charismatic of the human characters, the actor clearly relishing his buffoonery.

On a visual score, Two Kitties is well done. Both cats are effectively animated, interact with the surroundings seamlessly, and despite their identical look are easily distinguishable through different physical mannerisms afforded to each.

Garfield 2 is certainly not going to win any awards, but is fun enough for the younger kids and at least bearable for the parents to sit through.