Garfield as
Himself
gathers three Garfield
television specials from the early 1980s, based on the pudgy,
self-centered feline character and friends from Jim Davis's
popular comic strip.
CRITIQUE
Just when you thought computers had taken over the world of
animation this DVD arrives in shops: Garfield as Himself, a
nice look back at pen & ink animation. Say what you want about
Garfield, this kind of animation has the kind of soul that
computers just cannot duplicate. Garfield as Himself is a
funny, charming collection, simple and sophisticated, and perfect
for kids and adults.
This trio of
stories, all written by Garfield creator Jim Davis, begins with
Here Comes Garfield, where Garfield mounts a rescue of his
friend/nemesis Odie after Odie is locked in the pound. Next is
Garfield on the Town, where Garfield escapes a trip to the vet and
ends up exploring a rough part of town, where he discovers his mother
among the hordes of stray cats. The last episode on the disc,
Garfield Gets A Life, is probably the best episode on the disc.
Here Garfield tries to coach his hapless owner Jon toward a love life.
These episodes are all very funny. If you enjoyed Garfield as a kid,
you might be surprised to find out how much humor there is for adults
as well. Garfield was the Shrek of its day: a subversive
cartoon that dealt with adult issues in a way that children could
enjoy.
I
have been a fan of Garfield since I was young, but this is the first
time I have recognized the adult humor in the cartoon. That kind of
humor is present without being so overpowering as to alienate younger
viewers. That is a difficult balance to pull off, but Garfield and
Friends does it well. This collection has plenty of heart,
intelligence and wit to go around.
THE VIDEO
Garfield and Friends is presented in
the original 1.33:1 fullscreen ratio. The transfer is crisp,
bringing the colors vividly to life. The presentation is clear is
true to the material. English and Spanish subtitles are also
available.
THE AUDIO
The audio presentation offers
both English and Spanish language tracks, both presented in
Dolby Digital 1.0 sound. The presentation is crisp and clear,
with good dispersal throughout. The sound is sharp and the
dialogue easy to understand.
THE EXTRAS
There is nothing at all on this disk in the way of bonus material.
It would have been nice to have a commentary, or anything
providing some insight, but there is zilch.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Garfield is as charming as ever, and the three episodes
we have here are classics. Kids and adults alike will find enjoyment
here. The utter lack of special features speaks to how barebones this
disc is. Die-hard fans may consider a purchase, but others may want to
wait until the release of Garfield and
Friends.
