The silver screen

Garfield leaps from page to cinema screen next summer in his first full-length feature

First there was "Garfield," the comic strip, then there was "Garfield and Friends," the television show, and now there is "Garfield" the movie. -รก

In the movie, Garfield's dog roommate, Odie, is kidnapped by a vicious dog trainer.

Although Garfield wanted Odie gone before, he feels responsible for his disappearance and is determined to find him.

The movie takes Garfield onto the streets of the city where he runs into numerous adventures. On one encounter, Garfield runs into a drunken member of the Rocky Mountain Red Raccoon Lodge, which will be played by Garfield creator Jim Davis.

Davis has allowed Universal Pictures and John Davis of Davis Entertainment to produce the Garfield movie.

John Davis, who is not related to Jim Davis, has produced 75 movies including "Dr. Dolittle" starring Eddie Murphy, "Behind Enemy Lines" and "Grumpy Old Men."

Co-writers of the movie "Toy Story" worked on the script for the "Garfield" movie.

According to Garfield's Web site the two worked with the rest of the production team to ensure that Garfield's attitude and humor were accurately portrayed throughout the movie.

"They spent a whole week here and we went through all of our shows, all of our books and actually did the treatment for the movie before they left," Davis is quoted as saying on the Web site.

Peter Hewitt will direct the film. Hewitt directed the Disney film "Tom and Huck" starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

The movie will use real people and live animals except for Garfield.

The animals will talk and show facial expressions through the use of computer generated images.

To get Garfield's image exact Garfield will be the only cast member done by CGI.

Garfield's voice will be done by Bill Murray. Murray just released his second Charlie's Angels movie and has starred in a number of other great box office hits.

The part of Garfield's owner, Jon Arbuckle, will be played by Breckin Meyer who has played in "Clueless," "Can't Hardly Wait" and "Road Trip."

Garfield's veterinarian and Jon's love interest will be played by Jennifer Love Hewitt, who starred in movies such as "Heart Breakers," "I know What You Did Last Summer" and the television show "Party of Five."

Stephen Tobolowski from "Memento" and Disney's the "Country Bears" will play the part of Happy.

The movie started production March 10 and is scheduled to hit theaters June 4, 2004.

The cast

Bill Murray, voice of Garfield

Breckin Meyer, will play the part of Jon Arbuckle

Jennifer Love Hewitt, will play the part of Garfield's veterinarian and Jon's love interest

Stephen Toblowski will play the part of Happy


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