Movie Type: Animal Picture, Family-Oriented Adventure
Themes: Americans Abroad, Assumed Identities, Inheritance at Stake
Main Cast: Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Billy Connolly, Ian Abercrombie, Lucy Davis
Release Year: 2006
Country: US
Run Time: 77 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
The laziest cat in America swaps places with the richest feline in England in director Tim Hill's lasagna-laden sequel to the 2004 theatrical hit Garfield. Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer) is on his way to London to propose to his veterinarian girlfriend, Liz Wilson (Jennifer Love Hewitt), and his unflappable cat, Garfield, is determined to be there when Jon pops the big question. Of course, Garfield wouldn't go anywhere without his old pal Odie, and soon after arriving in the land of Big Ben, the clueless tomcat inadvertently changes places with royal look-a-like Prince. It seems that Prince's owner, Lady Eleanor, has recently passed away, leaving the care of her sprawling estate Castle Carlyle in the capable paws of her devoted kitty companion. The trouble is, Prince has decided it's due time for a vacation, and with Garfield in charge there's no telling what kind of trouble will befall Castle Carlyle. Despite having a devoted butler named Smithee (Ian Abercrombie) to cater to his every whim and a whole host of fun-loving critters with whom to pass the lazy days spent lounging in the sun, this crowned head begins to feel the sting of deceit as the envious Lord Dargis (Billy Connolly) hatches a dastardly plan to do away with the whiskered heir and claim Castle Carlyle all to himself. Meanwhile, as Garfield attempts to hold his ground against his greedy would-be nemesis, the fun-loving Prince is living it up with Jon and Odie by taking a trip to some of London's most popular pubs. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Roger Rees - Mr Hobbs; Bill Murray - Garfield; Jane Carr - Mrs Whitney; Oliver Muirhead - Mr Greene; Lena Cardwell - Teenage Tourist; Veronica Alicino - Veterinary Assistant; JB Blanc - Hotel Porter; Vernée Watson Johnson - Tourist 2; Russell Milton - Bobby; Ben Falcone - American Tourist; Bryce Lenon - Police Sergeant; Judi Shekoni - Tour Guide; Melanie Tolbert - Waitress; David Kallaway - Darts Guy; Brian Manis - Contractor; Roscoe Lee Browne - Narrator; Greg Ellis - Nigel; Bob Hoskins - Winston; Sharon Osbourne - Christophe; Tim Curry - Prince; Joe Pasquale - Claudius; Jane Leeves - Eenie; Jane Horrocks - Meenie; Richard E. Grant - Preston; Vinnie Jones - Rommel; Rhys Ifans - McBunny; Jim Piddock - Bolero; Martin Taylor - Announcer; Kenneth Danziger; Neil Dickson; Robin Atkin Downes; John Gidcomb; Jean Gilpin; Andy Kreiss; Peter Lavin; Susan Leslie; Hope Levy; Paula Jane Newman; Justin Moran Shenkarow; Mark Sussman; Diz White
Credit
Louis Mann - Art Director, Rhythm & Hues Studios - Animator, Rainmaker Animation and Visual Effects UK - Animator, Matthew Jon Beck - Casting, Monica Swann - Casting, Brian Manis - Co-producer, Francine Jamison-Tanchuck - Costume Designer, Michele Panelli-Venetis - First Assistant Director, Tim Hill - Director, Dean Cundey - Second Unit Director, Kent Beyda - Editor, Peter Elliot - Editor, Peter S. Elliott - Editor, Michele Imperato - Executive Producer, Matthew Jon Beck - Executive Producer, Brian Manis - Executive Producer, Cheri Minns - Hair Styles, Colleen Callaghan - Hair Styles, Craig Van Gundy - Location Manager, Christophe Beck - Composer (Music Score), Dave Jordan - Musical Direction/Supervision, Cheri Minns - Makeup, Peter Mercurio - Camera Operator, Alan Brownstein - Camera Operator, Tony Burrough - Production Designer, Peter Lyons Collister - Cinematographer, Steve Harding - Production Manager, John Davis - Producer, Mick Cukurs - Set Designer, Dennis H. Kraft - Set Designer, Gary Gegan - Sound Mixer, Matthew Iadarola - Sound Mixer, David MacMillan - Sound/Sound Designer, John Moio - Stunts Coordinator, Jake Jacobson - Unit Production Manager, Joel Cohen - Screenwriter, Alec Sokolow - Screenwriter, Casey Hotchkiss - Second Unit Camera, Larry D. Davis - Second Unit Camera, Bruce Szeles - Post Production Supervisor, Helen Gregory - Production Coordinator, Robert "RJ" Hume - Production Coordinator, Ellis Barbacoff - Properties Master, Rebecca Robertson-Szwaja - Script Supervisor, David Mendoza - Second Assistant Director, Alan E. Lorimer - Special Effects Coordinator, Chris Bailey - Supervising Animator, Donald Sylvester - Supervising Sound Editor, Steve Dubin - Visual Effects Producer, Shane D. Kelly - Chief Lighting Technician, Hugh Conlon - Construction Coordinator, Claudia Wick - Costumes Supervisor, Don Miller - Production Accountant, Rusty Mahmood - Second Unit Assistant Director, Anne McCulley - Set Decorator, John Berri - Visual Effects Editor, Pacific Title - Title Design
Garfield (voiced by Bill Murray) goes to London with Odie to surprise his master, Jon Arbuckle (played by Breckin Meyer), who is in London to propose to his girlfriend, Dr. Liz Wilson (played by Jennifer Love Hewitt). Garfield inadvertently switches places with Prince, a royal cat who has just inherited a castle. They both look exactly alike (the same breed).
In the grand estate Garfield now calls home, he receives the royal treatment, including a butler and an international array of four-legged servants and followers. Lord Dargis (the main villain played by Billy Connolly), who's next in line to inherit the estate, wants Prince/Garfield (voiced by Tim Curry) out of the picture.
He makes many attempts to get rid of Prince/Garfield, one involving a vicious but dim Rottweiler (voiced by Vinnie Jones). Eventually Jon, with the help of Odie, prevents Lord Dargis from trying to kill Prince/Garfield. Jon finds a newspaper and goes to Garfield, while Garfield and Prince meet each other for the first time. When Lord Dargis finds out that Prince is still alive he tries to kill him before anyone sees. Then he threatens everyone if they don't sign the papers to him. Odie and Jon end up saving the day. Smithee alerts the authorities and Dargis is arrested. Garfield had been trying to stop Jon from proposing to Liz but his heart softens and helps Jon in proposing and she accepts.
The exterior castle scenes were shot at Castle Howard in Yorkshire, England and some of the interior scenes like the main staircase were at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, California, and most film scenes were shot at London.
Just like the original film, the critical reaction to Garfield: A Tail Of Two Kitties was extremely poor, getting a very low 11% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film grossed $28,426,747 in the U.S. Box Office (the original made this in its first six days)[1]. According to 20th Century Fox, the studio was aware that the film would not make as much as the first, and only made it based on the worldwide success of the first film.[2] It became a huge success overseas, earning $113,011,707, or 79.9% of its worldwide gross.
Home release
The DVD was released on October 10, 2006. The DVD includes a "Drawing with Jim Davis" featurette and two games: Garfield's Maze, and Odie's Photo Album. It also includes a music video, trailers, and footage not seen in theaters.
Extended edition from Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Extended edition DVD in Garfield: The Movie Follow Along DVD in January 1, 2008.
Golden Raspberry Awards
The film was nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards in 2006, one in the category "Worst Prequel or Sequel", and one in the category "Worst Excuse for Family Entertainment".
