Good natured holiday fun with Garfield and Odie going along with owner John to his family Christmas dinner at the farmhouse of the parents and grandma, with his only brother attending as well. I used to grow up with this cartoon on Saturdays as a child when it came on CBS and have fond memories. I hadn't even thought of this Christmas special until reading a fellow user comment by an Internet friend from Canada which inspired me to seek it out. I'm glad I did. It opens with Garfield dreaming of John bestowing upon him several trays of lasagna along with a magical chair which reads what you so desire and gives it to you. Obviously grouchy because it was a dream, Garfield isn't too keen on having to wake up and visit John's folks but soon finds that there's more to Christmas than mere material things. Among the festivities, Grandma breaks loose on the piano, secretly pours chili sauce in her daughter-in-law's sausage stew, and feeds her portion of the dinner to an appreciative(and full)Garfield and Odie under the table. Meanwhile, as if they were little kids again, John and his brother demand papa let them open presents at 1:30 in the morning and read to them a story. Most endearing are memories Grandma shares with Garfield about her late husband..Garfield finds some old letters Grandma and her late husband shared and delivers them to her which couldn't be a more wonderful present. Sure the show is sentimental and old fashioned, but it doesn't go overboard. It sure was a nice way to spend 23 minutes; and this family seems pretty genteel and genuine, rather blue collar and wonderfully rural. A good trip back in time for me to when I was a kid. As always wonderful voice work from Lorenzo Music as Garfield.

If anybody even likes Garfield remotely then they will love this movie, it's funny, heartwarming, and original in one. To begin with I must say that the two best cartoons in my opinion are Charles Schulz' Peanuts and Jim Davis' Garfield. Plot summary: Garfield, Jon, and Odie go to the farm to visit their relatives (e.g. Mom, Dad, Grandma, Doc Boy). Garfield is, like always, pessimistic and hilarious, Jon is as usual optimistic and still in his bunny slippers, and Odie is his sweet old self. The basic things that happen in the movie is that the family puts up the tree, has their little Christmas traditions, and Garfield finds the true meaning of Christmas. Along the way is "Garfield-packed fun" with a funny and sweet way of interperating life.

This is your basic Garfield, wisecracks about everything and everyone that seem to reach the truth in life like, if I may quote from the movie "Why do we always put the stupid star on last? Why don't we put the star on first and then put the tree up?", and this is replied with "Well it just wouldn't be Christmas if we put the star on the tree first, honey." To me that's what we all have to laugh at. To sum it up this is a good movie for anyone (unless you don't like Garfield) and it will make you want to watch it again and again. The is the first time I've given a rating in my report, but for a cartoon movie this is ******** out of 10.

Have always had a big soft spot for Garfield as both a child and young adult, who is in a way a child at heart but with a significantly broader knowledge of film and television. He is such a funny and lovable character and his specials and 'Garfield and Friends' are every bit as good, and perhaps even better, now. Am not as much a fan of the 2000s show, and while to me the live action films are not that bad (the second especially, actually being a huge improvement) they are still nowhere near close to being as good and will never go down as classics.

When it comes to the Garfield specials, 'A Garfield Christmas Special' is my personal favourite and always has been. Also among the best Christmas specials ever made from personal opinion, mainly in animation but also otherwise. High praise indeed coming from such a big fan of animation and Christmas for practically my whole life, and there are so many classic examples of Christmas portrayed in animation too numerous to list. It is so lovely to see so many others who are also as fond of Garfield and 'A Garfield Christmas Special' as me.

The animation is still as colourful as remembered with the smooth drawing, far from sparse backgrounds and attention to detail holding up really well. The music is playful and never placed questionably. The songs are upbeat, have emotional impact and above all they're memorable. "Can't Wait Till Christmas" is my favourite. Not a dud in the lot and that has not been said a lot, there are other personal favourites featuring songs (either musicals or song heavy) that still have a song that doesn't quite do it for me.

Entertainment value is constant, with extremely funny wry and witty humour peppered throughout. Very few animation characters make or have made asides as hilarious and as endearing as Garfield does. Yet there is also an emotional impact that is genuinely moving and not schmaltzy, underneath all the fun there is also a big warm heart. Also constant is the charm. The story is slight but not simplistic and it doesn't try to do too much and it becomes cluttered and muddled (two things that 'A Garfield Christmas Special' never becomes), and the sprightly pace keeps things continually compelling.

Garfield never stops being funny and lovable and who can't help love adorable Odie? The voice acting is on point, Lorenzo Music owned Garfield and no voice actor since him voiced him better or as well, that is including the multi-talented Frank Welker.

In conclusion, wonderful. Christmas is not the same without this. 10/10 Bethany Cox