Garfield’s transition to film nearly purr-fect

America’s favorite cat has made the leap from the comic strips to celluloid with most of his arrogance and attitude in place. And it doesn’t hurt that he sounds just like Bill Murray.

“Garfield the Movie” combines computer animation and live-action to tell the story of Jim Davis’ lasagna-loving feline in his feature-film debut. All the other animals and all the humans in the film are real; only Garfield is a computer-generated creation.

Yet, surprisingly, the effect is seamless. Except for the big bulging eyes that are Garfield’s exaggerated trademark, the pudgy cat seems as real as Breckin Meyer (who plays his owner Jon), Jennifer Love Hewitt (who plays the veterinarian, and Jon’s love interest) and the 15 cats, 35 dogs, 30 rats and one mouse who are Garfield’s various friends and foes in the animal kingdom.

“Garfield the Movie” details the start of two sets of relationships. The first is a contentious rivalry for owner affection between Garfield and the newly arrived pet dog, the easy-going, slow-witted Odie, who is played by a real dog (and who never speaks).

The second, and far less interesting, story is between Jon and the vet. As in the comic strip, the movie Jon is terminally shy and nearly incapable of securing a date. But when he becomes friends with Garfield’s vet, she takes the initiative.

The story revolves around Garfield’s efforts to rescue Odie after he falls into the hands of a nefarious animal trainer. To the film’s credit, the cat maintains his devil-may-care attitude, even while pulling off the rescue. The result is a modest family film that’ll be catnip for kids, with just enough Garfield ‘tude (and Murray wit) to keep adults from scratching the furniture. self end