Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Sydney S. comments, “The Garfield Movie is a heartwarming story with a great pace and humor. It’s cleverly put together with beautiful animation which makes it an engaging film.”  Carter P. adds, “I love The Garfield Movie. It is fun, heartwarming and has a great villain.  The animation is stunning and it has some heartfelt moments with an exceptional cast.  The film definitely kept me entertained from beginning to end and I was laughing out loud.” Audrey S. adds, “The film’s message is that you should never judge others without knowing their full story. You may think that you know how something happened, but it’s important to get all the information. This message is successfully delivered through the development of Garfield’s relationship with his father.” Alma K. comments, “I have always loved all things Garfield, so I was expecting to love The Garfield Movie—and I do! The film remarkably captures the essence of Garfield, and I couldn’t think of a better movie to bring Garfield back to the big screen where he belongs — and with a talented star-studded cast.” Arjun N. wraps it up with, “

See their full reviews below.

The Garfield Movie

By Sydney S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

The Garfield Movie is a heartwarming story with a great pace and humor. It’s cleverly put together with beautiful animation which makes it an engaging film.

The story follows the cat, Garfield (Chris Pratt), who has the dream life – a dog best friend, a nice house, and most importantly, access to an endless amount of food. Everything’s going perfectly until he reunites with his long-lost father. The animals have a perilous journey ahead of them, having to deal with the conflict between the father-son duo.

I really like this movie because it’s super funny but also has deep messages about relationships with important people in your life. Its main characters are Garfield, Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), Jon (Nicholas Hoult), Otto (Ving Rhames) and Jinx (Hannah Waddingham). The characters are unique and represent different emotions – Garfield represents anger, Jon represents anxiety, Vic represents regret, and Otto represents sadness and longing. It illustrates a positive message for the younger generation at the end of the movie. I really like the animation; it’s unique and a cool mix of 2D and 3-D awareness of space. There isn’t a dull moment in this film. It’s constantly engaging, like when they’re running from a nasty security guard or dodging ridiculously big cutting knives. I like the pacing; it’s not too fast nor too slow. Plus, there are flashbacks to when Garfield was a young kitten, which gives the film a strong backstory. The background music helps set the mood. When it’s raining and young Garfield is abandoned, the music is slow and depressing. However, when Odie and Garfield are playing, the music lightens up. My favorite part of the movie is when Vic gets Garfield on the train by launching him off of a tree branch. Garfield bounces off trees, animals, rocks, and more, and it’s hilarious to watch.

The film’s message is about forgiveness and family. Garfield’s dad has a reason he left Garfield, which was actually to help him, rather than hurt him. Vic goes out searching for food and when he comes back, Garfield seems to be happy under Jon’s care. Garfield and Vic forgive each other, and become close again.

I give The Garfield Movie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. The Garfield Movie releases in theaters May 24, 2024.

The Garfield Movie

Carter P., KIDS FIRST!  Film Critic, age 12

I love The Garfield Movie. It is fun, heartwarming and has a great villain.  The animation is stunning and it has some heartfelt moments with an exceptional cast.  The film definitely kept me entertained from beginning to end and I was laughing out loud.

Garfield (Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father, scruffy street cat Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.  There is nothing not to love about Garfield.  He hates Mondays, loves lasagna, and is loyal to his best pals Jon and Odie.

I really love the animation in this film. It is extremely well done — the way the fur moves and how it looks on all the animals throughout the entire film is stunning.  When the fur moves during action sequences and when the heist plans are being made, they even switched the animation style which I thought was particularly cool. I really do not think they could have picked a better cast for this film.  Chris Pratt is perfect in the role of Garfield.  I love hearing Harvey Guillen as Odie, especially his different barks with different emotions expressed throughout the movie.  Hannah Waddingham voices Jinx, a cat who is the villain. She plays a fantastic villain — she is a little intense, but never too scary even for younger audiences.  I like that the plot is made simple so kids can easily understand it and the storyline is so funny.  This movie is rated PG; it is 1 hour and 41 minutes and it never drags.  I was completely entertained by the entire movie.  I left the theater wanting Italian food and a pet.

The film’s message is about teamwork, family, and friendship.  It shows how family will always be there for you, no matter what. The film shares the importance of doing what is right and being loyal to the people around you.

I give The Garfield Movie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults.  The Garfield Movie opens in theaters May 24, 2024. Be sure to check it out!

The Garfield Movie 

By Audrey L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 9 

The Garfield Movie is an entertaining animated film about a lovable tabby cat and his adventures. I like funny movies and this one definitely falls into that category. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt! This film isn’t all jokes though; there are many heartwarming moments as well. 

This film starts out by making sure the audience knows just how much Garfield (Chris Pratt) loves Italian food. While eating his morning snack, he begins to tell the story of how he met his owner Jon (Nicholas Hoult) after his own father Vic (Samuel L Jackson) seemingly abandons him. Jon takes Garfield in, and from there he has quite the luxurious life; he gets to sit around all day eating and watching cat videos on TV with his buddies. Unsuspectingly, Garfield is taken from his normal routine and forced to adjust to a world he is not prepared for. On this new journey, Garfield meets lots of new people and learns many new life lessons. With the help of his new friends and his dad, Garfield learns to be independent. Garfield eventually makes his way home to a new normal that he helps create. 

The Garfield Movie is an animated film that personifies everything from ordinary house pets to farm animals. The animation is very well done and the colors used are an iconic part of what makes Garfield, Garfield. The music used throughout this film really helps set the vibe at crucial moments, such as when Italian music plays at the local Italian restaurant and familiar “danger” music plays during action scenes. My favorite character is Garfield because he is hilarious, loves Italian food, and hates Mondays! The selection of voice actors for each character is also spot on. When Roland the dog (Brett Goldstein) fakes a British accent to make Jinx (Hannah Waddingham) more comfortable, then switches back to his New York accent at the end, the talent of this voice actor really shines through.

The film’s message is that you should never judge others without knowing their full story. You may think that you know how something happened, but it’s important to get all the information. This message is successfully delivered through the development of Garfield’s relationship with his father. Note that this film does contain some violence; although delivered in a funny way, some parents may be uncomfortable with their kids watching such aggressive behavior. 

I give The Garfield Movie 5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. It is available exclusively in movie theaters beginning May 24, 2024. Be sure to check it out. 

The Garfield Movie

By Alma K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

I have always loved all things Garfield, so I was expecting to love The Garfield Movie—and I do! The film remarkably captures the essence of Garfield, and I couldn’t think of a better movie to bring Garfield back to the big screen where he belongs — and with a talented star-studded cast.

The story follows Garfield (Chris Pratt) who has an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father Vic (Samuel L. Jackson) when Jinx (Hannah Waddingham) — the movie’s crazy vengeful antagonist — kidnaps both Garfield and his fellow pet Odie (Harvey Guillén). Jinx forces the two of them from their perfect (marred only by Mondays), pampered, luxurious lives into joining Vic in a high-stakes heist as revenge against Garfield’s father. The plot is tied in with so much humor and so many plot twists overall making it a fun family comedy.

Chris Pratt’s voice suits Garfield perfectly, and he brings the right attitude and edge to the character. Samuel L. Jackson wonderfully conveys emotion into his character, Vic (Garfield’s father) so as a viewer, you really end up feeling for his character. And Hannah Waddingham is outstanding as Jinx, Garfield’s antagonist. She voices Jinx as maniacal and flamboyant but she also brings heart and soul to Jinx, making viewers sympathize with Jinx’s motivations. Hannah Waddingham also has two songs in this movie:  An original called “I’m Back” which rolls over the end credits and a rendition of the French nursery rhyme “Alouette, Gentille Alouette”, the latter of the two occurring in my favorite Jinx scene. The Garfield Movie is really funny. I especially like the parts with Jon (Nicholas Hoult) in them. I do feel like there is a huge effort to make Garfield more modern in this movie… there are lots of pop culture references. In some cases it’s done very well, but the movie overdoes this. Garfield calls himself “G-money” and makes shark tank references. And The Garfield Movie has a huge fixation on mobile devices. The film loses out on a very important nostalgic aspect of the film by attempting to adjust Garfield to better match the present-day audience. Garfield is relatable to modern kids and loved by the modern audience not because he has a phone. As Garfield’s creator, Jim Davis says, “Garfield is a human being in a cat suit”. The film does flesh out his character and I really enjoy seeing it. Yes, his adventures are significantly wilder but that just makes them more fun to watch.

The message of The Garfield Movie revolves around the importance of family and connection. It explores themes of sacrifice, the unseen presence of love, how misunderstandings can change your whole worldview, and the deep (sometimes hidden) bonds that define family.

I give The Garfield Movie 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2-18, plus families as well as all fans of the lovable cat. Look out for The Garfield Movie, which opens in theaters May 24, 2024.

The Garfield Movie

By Arjun Nair, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 22

The Garfield Movie delivers a fun adventure while not fully delving into the signature deadpan humor that the Garfield comics are known for. While it underwhelms a bit, the film has a poignant hook with some heart to it. Families might have fun, and kids will adore the new chapter of the infamous Garfield’s life.

This film follows Garfield (Chris Pratt) after coming of age with his owner Jon (Nicholas Hoult) and dog Odie. Unfortunately, trouble in paradise occurs once a mysterious group of animals kidnaps Garfield and Odie for a milk heist helmed by a nefarious cat Jinx (Hannah Waddingham). The conspiracy gets deeper once Garfield is paired with his long-lost, deadbeat dad Vic (Samuel L. Jackson). Bitter emotions follow, but one thing remains certain – they must settle their beef and team up if they want to successfully survive the heist..

The cast features an ensemble of Hollywood greats performing voice acting that prevails against the somewhat derivative heist plot and awkward humor that often plagues kids’ films. Chris Pratt, as Garfield, presents a newfound emotional side to the character with his baggage regarding his dad Vic, while retaining the natural charm he’s known for. Unfortunately, the script never commits to the Garfield’s signature deadpan humor; so, it often feels like Chris Pratt is just playing a caricature of himself rather than of Garfield. Regardless, he maintains witty and despicable father-son banter with Vic. Samuel L. Jackson is a highlight as Vic by maintaining his redemption alongside a whimsical demeanor. He easily delivers the film’s funniest dialogue. The pack of criminals brings great stakes to the adventure at hand. Hannah Waddingham, as Jinx, overcomes her character’s generically nefarious intentions with her commanding presence. Although Jinx is disappointingly written, her lackeys hold some originality in their absurdity. Brett Goldstein, as Otto, especially maintains a menacing foil to Garfield and Odie as a hound with a mute dog partner named Nolan, but the film pinpoints a hidden, sweeter side to the sinister pair. Garfield and Vic are helped by the headstrong mascot bull Otto, played by Ving Rhames. Otto is a great mentor to the two amidst their beef, and helps them out on their milk heist to get back at the farm and reunite with his “cow lover” who’s detained there. Nicolas Hoult, as Jon, is sidelined by the overarching heist plot, but his yearning for his lost pets showcases a side to the character that pet owners will immediately relate with. Finally, Snoop Dogg makes a colorful cameo as Snoop Catt. Mark Dindal directs the film alongside vibrant, colorful animation. Despite some originality found here, too many pop culture references oversaturate the film.

The film holds a great message about the importance of fatherhood. Although Vic left Garfield, it’s his realization that Jon would bring a decent upbringing for Garfield that redeemed his character. It proves that Vic has the best of intentions, but there remains a lesson in the importance of communication. Similar to Tom and Jerry, the film features slapstick action and rude humor that never overstay their welcome for a younger audience.

I give The Garfield Movie 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. The film releases on May 24, 2024 in theaters. Be sure to check it out in theaters.

A Bird Lover’s Sticker Book by Workman Publishing; illustrated by Leana Fischer (On-sale April 16, 2024; $15.00; ISBN 9781523524488)

Containing more than 675 beautifully illustrated stickers, A Bird Lover’s Sticker Book celebrates of birds of all kinds. Each beautifully hand-painted image is perfect for decorating a nature journal, a birder’s diary, or the pages of a favorite birding guide. If you love birds, this one is a must-buy!

A Nature Lover’s Sticker Book by Workman Publishing; illustrated by Paola Deskins (On-sale May 14, 2024; $15.00; ISBN 9781523524808)

A collection of more than 800 beautifully illustrated stickers, A Nature Lover’s Sticker Book features everything from butterflies, blooming trees, to quirky critters and mushrooms. This treasure trove of stickers makes an excellent gift for those who enjoy being outdoors. I love nature and so I really enjoyed this book! Soooo many stickers!

So. Many. Snail Mail. Stickers. By Pipsticks+Workman (On-sale May 21, 2024; $14.99; ISBN 9781523518579)

Part of Pipsticks+Workman’s wildly popular So. Many. Stickers. series, So. Many. Snail Mail. Stickers features 2,500 stickers celebrating all things snail mail. From fun custom mailing labels to seasonal stamp art, these stickers will elevate any notebook or mail! I love sending cards so I am quite excited about this one!

Searching for Seashells by Jessie King Regunberg (On-sale April 23, 2024; $15.00; ISBN 9781523523450)

Searching for Seashells celebrates the enduring fascination of seashells, beautifully hand-painted images of shells interspersed with poems, interesting history, and surprising facts. It’s the gift of nature’s endless beauty, perfect for any beach-goer. I am a beach lover and this one is a favorite of mine! There were so many shells and many that I didn’t even know existed!

All books are also available from B&N and Amazon.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature. Cover images were also provided.

Roku Original The Great American Baking Show is the American version of the most beloved baking show on the planet, bringing together passionate, talented bakers from around the country to see who will be named America’s Best Amateur Baker. 

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “Season 2 of The Great American Baking Show is soon to arrive, in an attempt to capture the magic of its counterpart across the pond…and it succeeds beautifully. The Great American Baking Show is as fluffy and sweet as its bakers’ treats, and it replicates the British show’s format without feeling like a knock-off.” See his full review and interviews below.

The Great American Baking Show: Season 2

By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18

Watching nine contestants bake in a tent in the British countryside became an international pastime with the release of the Great British Baking Show. Season 2 of The Great American Baking Show is soon to arrive, in an attempt to capture the magic of its counterpart across the pond…and it succeeds beautifully. The Great American Baking Show is as fluffy and sweet as its bakers’ treats, and it replicates the British show’s format without feeling like a knock-off – though it is a bit corny at times.

The premise of the Great American Baking Show is simple: nine bakers from across the US, who each have expertise in different areas of baking, are assembled and brought to a white tent in the British countryside where they’re tasked with making increasingly difficult items. Each episode deals with one type of baked goods — week one is cake week, for example — and the bakers face three challenges to test their creativity and their mastery of baking in a time crunch and without a formal recipe. Their baked goods are judged by renowned chefs Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, who winnow down the pool of bakers by eliminating one each episode and, in the end, crown one baker as the winner. 

The Great American Baking Show Season 2 is, by leaps and bounds, superior to the most recent seasons of its British counterpart (and its first season, which had a tough run). That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have issues, but it’s almost at the level of the first few seasons of the Great British Baking Show. The bakers are judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, both of whom lean into the characters they’ve carved out for themselves in the British version. Paul is the exacting master baker whose handshakes seem to be worth more than the lottery (and whose striking good looks are a source of near-constant discussion among the ladies). And Prue is the endearing British dame, providing periodic, measured compliments and pearl-clutching comments about calories. The show’s hosts, comedian Zach Cherry and actress Ellie Kemper, have, essentially, one job: pull silly, cheesy stunts, motivate the bakers and mug for the camera while mournfully calling out time checks. In the first few episodes, they seem a bit awkward together, with some of their jokes working and others falling flat, but they soon find their beat. I did miss seeing Noel Fielding in the tent, but I will say that Cherry and Kemper’s chats with the bakers are fun and help the show move along. The contestants are a sweet, supremely talented, but somewhat unremarkable batch, likely due to the editing which, as in last season, doesn’t allow viewers to understand the bakers’ back-stories very well. There are other rough moments in the editing of this show, like some jerky cutaways, shaky footage of bakers running from place to place and clearly artificial, over-the-top reactions to the technical bake judging. Also to be noted, the items on this list were present in the first season of the American show too, so perhaps it’s an artistic choice. The actual content of the show is pleasant, though. The British version of the show has seen its challenges grow more and more wild over time, and the Great American Baking Show follows suit. I also think it was a smart move to make the show more “American” so that both viewers and bakers would have an easier time relating to the show. And, my final note — I love how wholesome the energy in the tent is throughout the show. Even in the midst of heated competition, the bakers smile and encourage each other. It appears that the kindest cross-section of America got its own TV show, which is nice to see in this age of discord and infighting. 

The Great American Baking Show promotes healthy competition, exploration, creativity and the enjoyment of simple joys in life like food. 

Great American Baking Show: Season 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It will be available on The Roku Channel beginning May 24, 2024. 

From writer and director John Krasinski, IF is about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends — and what she does with that superpower — as she embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids. IFstars Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, and the voices of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. and Steve Carell alongside many more as the wonderfully unique characters that reflect the incredible power of a child’s imagination.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Kennedy P. comments, “I love the film IF.  It delivers a lot of heart and teaches everyone to keep the magic alive.  It is fun, silly and had me shedding a tear in the theater and thinking about my childhood and imaginary friend. The cast is outstanding and the CGI work is so impressive. This movie will bring you right back to your childhood in all the most magical ways.” See her full review below.

IF
By Kennedy P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9

I love the film IF.  It delivers a lot of heart and teaches everyone to keep the magic alive.  It is fun, silly and had me shedding a tear in the theater and thinking about my childhood and imaginary friend.

In the film Bea (Cailey Fleming) discovers she can see everyone’s imaginary friends and embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.  Bea has gone through a lot and is forcing herself to grow up and then, she meets Cal (Ryan Reynolds) and re-discovers her belief in the unbelievable. Bea needed a distraction as life was getting tougher for her and helping these imaginary friends is just what she needed. 

IF is a fantastic film that is perfect for the entire family. The cast is outstanding and the CGI work is so impressive. This movie will bring you right back to your childhood in all the most magical ways. Cailey Fleming is remarkable.  Her relationship onscreen with Ryan Reynolds is magical — they get along perfectly and you can feel their natural connection.  John Krasinski’s role as Bea’s father is amazing — he is silly, loving and fun, and does not want Bea to give up on being a child. He jokes around with her a lot throughout the movie, even when she tells him to stop. His response is “never.”  John Krasinski not only stars in the film, but he wrote and directed it as well. The IF’s are designed so well and there is something special about each one of them.  They look so real on the screen and I fell in love with them immediately.  Cailey’s performance is terrific when she interacts with the IF’s that obviously were not really there during filming.

The film’s message deals with healing yourself and creating distractions when life gets difficult.  It reminds us to never lose the joy in life — keep the magic alive and believe in the unbelievable. It is about family, friendship and always having someone who is there for you, even if you have to make believe.  The movie is the perfect length and never drags.

I give IF 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults.  You can watch IF in theaters on May 17, 2024.