Garfield Puns
A tale of two cats, one castle, and a whole lot of lasagna.
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, released in 2006, is a live-action animated adventure comedy directed by Tim Hill. Written by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, it serves as the sequel to Garfield: The Movie (2004). The film stars Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Bill Murray reprising their roles as Jon Arbuckle, Dr. Liz Wilson, and the voice of Garfield. New live-action cast members include Billy Connolly, Ian Abercrombie, Roger Rees, Lucy Davis, and Oliver Muirhead, while Tim Curry, Bob Hoskins, Rhys Ifans, Vinnie Jones, Joe Pasquale, Richard E. Grant, and Jane Leeves voice the new animal characters.
- Creator Origin
- Jim Davis
- Primary Character Association
- Garfield and Jon Arbuckle
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The story is loosely inspired by Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper, with its title parodying Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. Jon Arbuckle travels to London to propose to Liz, but his pets, Garfield and Odie, sneak into his luggage. In England, the late Lady Eleanor Carlyle bequeaths her castle, Carlyle Castle, to Prince XII, a cat who looks exactly like Garfield. This infuriates Lord Manfred Dargis, the Lady's nephew, who plans to demolish the estate for condominiums after Prince dies. Dargis traps Prince in a picnic basket and throws him into a river. Jon finds Prince and takes him to his hotel, mistaking him for Garfield, while Prince's butler, Smithee, finds the real Garfield in London and brings him to the castle.
In Their Own Story
At Carlyle Castle, Garfield receives special treatment from Smithee and Prince's farm animal followers, led by majordomo Winston. He convinces them to protect him to prevent Dargis from taking the estate. Meanwhile, at the hotel, Prince learns to be an ordinary pet. Both cats eventually miss their old lives; Garfield is particularly affected after overhearing animals complain about his slovenly behavior. They meet face-to-face when both attempt to return home. Garfield convinces the animals to help defeat Dargis. Jon and Odie discover the mix-up and travel to the castle, where Liz is coincidentally visiting. The duo taunt Dargis, exposing his plan before the solicitors. Dargis threatens them with a blunderbuss and takes Liz hostage, but Jon defeats him as Smithee alerts authorities. Garfield helps Jon propose to Liz, who accepts.
Reader's Guide
The film was released by 20th Century Fox in the United States on June 16, 2006, and in the United Kingdom on July 21. It grossed $143 million worldwide against a $60 million budget, with specific breakdowns of $28.4 million in North America and $113.3 million elsewhere. Critics were largely negative; Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 12% rating based on 78 reviews, while Metacritic awarded a weighted average of 37 out of 100. Roger Ebert notably gave it three out of four stars, calling it funnier than the first film, whereas Joe Leydon of Variety called it superior to its predecessor. The film was nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards in 2006 but lost both. A third film, Garfield Gets Real, was released a year later in 2007.
Did You Know?
- The film's title is a parody of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities.
- Roger Ebert gave the film two out of four stars, calling it funnier than the first film.
- Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties was released on DVD with an extended version containing eight minutes of footage not seen in theaters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a Garfield Pun?
These are wordplay jokes created by Jim Davis that often rely on food or cat-related homophones. They serve as the primary source of verbal humor throughout the comic strip and movie adaptations.
Do Garfield Puns appear in the movies?
Yes, films like Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties utilize these gags to maintain consistency with the original comics. Bill Murray's voice performance frequently delivers these lines during his scenes as the orange cat.
Who is responsible for Garfield Puns?
Jim Davis writes these jokes, often collaborating with screenwriters like Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow for film scripts. He ensures they fit the personality of Garfield without overshadowing Jon Arbuckle's supporting role.
Are Garfield Puns a specific character?
No, this term refers to a recurring comedic trope rather than an individual entity with powers or a biography. It describes the style of humor used by the main character throughout his adventures.
Why do fans love Garfield Puns?
They provide a consistent and recognizable voice that has entertained audiences since 1978. This specific brand of wit helps distinguish the franchise from other animal-centric entertainment properties.
More in Gags & Tropes
Related in Garfield
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in the Garfield universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record