Jon's Dating Fails

Lore & Background

The story begins with Jon following Liz to the United Kingdom for a business trip, intending to surprise her. However, the narrative takes a chaotic turn when Garfield and Odie, having escaped a kennel, infiltrate Jon's luggage. Upon arriving in London, boredom drives the pets out of the hotel room, where they get lost on the streets. This sets off a chain of events involving a mix-up with Prince XII, a cat who looks exactly like Garfield. While this plot focuses on identity swapping and an evil aristocrat named Lord Manfred Dargis, it does not depict Jon failing to date; instead, it culminates in his successful proposal. The "lore" of failure is absent here; the only obstacle is the physical separation caused by the cat swap and the villain's interference.

In Their Own Story

In London, a critical mix-up occurs: Jon finds Prince climbing out of a drain and mistakes him for Garfield, taking him to the hotel. Meanwhile, Prince's butler, Smithee, finds the actual Garfield in the street and takes him to Carlyle Castle, mistaking him for Prince. Inside the castle, Garfield enjoys special treatment from the butler and farm animals led by bulldog majordomo Winston. He teaches them to make lasagna while trying to prevent Dargis from demolishing the estate. Eventually, Garfield and Prince meet face-to-face after both attempt to return to their old lives. Jon and Odie discover the mix-up and travel to the castle, where Liz is coincidentally visiting. In the climax, Dargis takes Liz hostage with a blunderbluss-wielding threat against Jon. After Jon defeats Dargis, Garfield, who had been trying to stop the proposal, has a change of heart. He helps Jon propose to Liz, and she accepts.

Reader's Guide

Based strictly on "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties," there is no guide to dating failures because the protagonist successfully secures his relationship. The film depicts Jon Arbuckle's journey from planning a proposal in Ohio to executing it in London. Key moments include the accidental travel of Garfield and Odie, the identity swap with Prince XII at Carlyle Castle, and the confrontation with Lord Dargis. Unlike other iterations where sabotage ruins dates, this story features Garfield ultimately facilitating the union. The resolution involves Jon defeating the villain and proposing to Liz Wilson in front of witnesses, which she accepts. The film concludes with their engagement, supported by the presence of the solicitors and the rescue of Liz from captivity.

Did You Know?

• Jon Arbuckle traveled to London to propose to Liz Wilson.
• Garfield and Odie sneaked into Jon's luggage after escaping a kennel.
• The film was released in the United States on June 16, 2006, and earned $141 million worldwide against a $60 million budget.
• Lord Manfred Dargis planned to remodel Carlyle Castle into condominiums and demolish the estate.
• Garfield had a change of heart and helped Jon propose to Liz Wilson after initially trying to stop it.