A Garfield Christmas Special (1987 TV Short) User Reviews

Christmas time for Garfield.

[emasterslake · 8/10 · 10 January 2007]

Jon Arbuckle takes Odie and Garfield to his family's farm home for Christmas. Jon's excited, but Garfield wasn't as he prefers to have his Christmas back home.

Jon is welcomed by his whole family, his parents, his farm hand brother: "Doc Boy", and his Rowdy Grandmother.

Tis the Season, and Garfield thinks the whole holiday is all about the gifts. But after this holiday Garfield will learn that there's more to Christmas than the gifts themselves.

This one is very simple, but very well written. It may take place in one location, but it does have the usual jokes to keep things going. And it's a holiday treat for the die-hard Garfield fans. Or those who like holiday toons.

I just love Garfield.

[Ryan N · 9/10 · 6 March 2002]

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.

A Garfield Christmas Special

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 23 December 2010]

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.

One of the Best Christmas Specials Ever

[Hollywood_Yoda · 10/10 · 14 December 2005]

I recently saw this film after many years, and it reminded me of what Christmas should really mean. The holiday should not be about receiving or giving gifts, but the love that one person, or creature can give to another. This is one holiday special that needs to be shown on television more over the Christmas holiday season. Seeing Garfield and Odie, and Jon at Christmas with his parents was just what any person needs over the fast holiday season. With the rush of Christmas, and all the new "specials" coming on TV and video, this is one that is really a special, that everyone should watch. This is one special that deserves the 10 out of 10 vote of excellent.

I can't believe nobody commented on this.

[kenny_c_hueholt · 22 January 2002]

This is definitely a yearly ritual. It has got to be one of my favorite Christmas specials of all time. I think the best part is that Garfield shows his soft side here. This is shown when Garfield sits in Grandma's lap and she tells him about how she misses her husband. Also, when Garfield gives Odie a hug at the end. There's nothing like a good old fashioned Christmas on the farm.

Cozy Xmas Cartoon

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 10/10 · 20 December 2004]

Is it just me or do the Garfield TV specials seem to have a real emotional touch to them that gives the whole series higher integrity than the average children's animation. If only the movie were this good.

It's Xmas time once again and Jon takes Garfield and Odie back home to the farm for a good, old-fashioned country Xmas. Originally against the idea, Garfield quickly becomes accustomed when he remembers how much he likes Grandma. John and brother Doc-Boy behave like kids again and can barely contain their excitement at the forthcoming prezzies (who can?) and what on earth is Odie up to in the barn?

The Garfield Christmas Special is a warm, sentimental and meaningful cartoon with great songs (once again) and the kind of everlasting charm most would kill for. Highly recommended!

No Other Like It!

[aloneinshadow · 10/10 · 1 December 2004]

Garfield's Christmas is one of my family's favorite holiday traditions. We just love watching Garfield, Odie, and Jon team up with Jon's Family, especially Grandma, for some good old family Christmas time together.

Odie shows us that its not the gift we get, its the thought and effort put into it. As Garfield tells us, its not the getting, its not the getting, its the loving. And Grandma's memories scene is probably one of the most touching and heart-warming scenes I've seen in any presentation, animated or live-action.

Be sure to share this with your family and enjoy all that it has to offer.

Festive Garfield

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 2 January 2019]

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

Hard to find

[Christmas-Reviewer · 7/10 · 11 January 2018]

PLEASE BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY " C H R I S T M A S " MOVIES AS I CAN.

Now Someone keeps reporting my reviews. I guess they are jealous because I do tell the truth. I want to point out that I never make snide remarks about actors weight or real life sexual orientation. If there acting is terrible or limited "I talk about that". If a story is bad "I will mention that" So why am I being "picked on"? IMDB? When one of my reviews gets deleted IMDB will not even tell me what someone found offensive. Well on to this review

This "Christmas Special" is very funny. It was a little easy to see how the animated special most likely inspired "The Simpsons" In a dream, Garfield is awakened by his owner Jon dressed as an elf, who feeds him a large amount of lasagna before giving him his gift, a robotic Santa Claus which reads minds and produces whatever Garfield wants. When Jon actually wakes up Garfield, he tells him that it is "Christmas Eve morning" and they and Odie are going to the countryside to celebrate Christmas with Jon's family on their farm. Garfield is annoyed that they always go to the farm and the family never comes to Jon's house. During his drive to his family's farm, Jon talks about Christmases he had when he was a boy, with his parents, brother Doc Boy, and Grandma, while Garfield listens with great cynicism

This is a very funny special. You can watch it again and again and laugh just as hard on repeated viewings.

Hard to find but worth the search!

A GARFIELD Christmas!!!

[Terryfan · 10/10 · 25 December 2005]

This is why Garfield is a awesome show.

I remember watching A Garfield Christmas with my brothers and mom and dad all the time.

I always love Christmas movies and shows and this one is one of my all-time favorites.

I love Christmas!!!

My favorite parts were When Garfield try to put the star on top of The Christmas and come crashing down, When Garfield And Odie gave each other a hug and the family started to sing, when Jon's Grandma was telling Garfield stories about Christmas, and when Jon's Dad read the Brinky: The Clown who save Christmas and was told to say "HEY KIDS"

A wonderful Christmas for the whole family Check It Out!

Merry Christmas!!

A Different Kind of Christmas

[gavin6942 · 6/10 · 29 December 2013]

Garfield, Jon, and Odie go to Jon's grandmother's house for Christmas, where Garfield finds a present for Grandma.

When Garfield celebrates Christmas, he does it his own way -- tearing into presents, grumbling about family and eating more than enough food to stuff a truck. For some of us, this might be more of how we think of Christmas than with all the happy, sentimental stuff (though there is a moment or two of that here).

While not as celebrated as "Peanuts", the Garfield special is worth watching. And at least it makes more sense than the "B.C" special... I mean, really? That is just sort of weird.

Garfield's Christmas Question!

[whowho502 · 10/10 · 18 October 2005]

Hey Everyone, Just like all of you, I love Garfield's Christmas! I watch it almost every year, and make the attempt to watch it every Christmas. I never get tired of it. I give it a 10/10! But I have a question, that maybe someone can help me out with.

When Garfield is in Grandma's lap, eventually there is a song that is sung. The woman that sings this has a beautiful voice. From doing some searching, I think her name might be Desirée Goyette....not sure.

Can confirm for me that this is the singer of that song? More importantly, what is the title of that song. I have tried so hard to get the lyrics, and have failed. I want the full lyrics so bad! The song goes something like this: "Christmas is here, sleigh bells and laughter. Lights on the tree, everybody is home. And all through the house candles glow.... Keep Christmas here....in your heart!" I love that song, and I have too get the full lyrics.

Can anyone help? Thanks!

Fun watch, not only during the holidays

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 11 September 2015]

Two more years and "A Garfield Christmas Special" will celebrate its 30th anniversary. I think the big strength of these Garfield half-hour films is the humour. They always manage to give off a cool vibe of not taking themselves too seriously and yet they deliver a message or contents that are very fitting for the occasions. This little movie here is maybe the perfect example of it and it is possibly also the most famous Garfield short film. I wouldn't say it's the best, but it's still very good. The music does not only include the singing from the characters, but there is always also a catchy little tune in the background that is one of the famous Christmas songs. And the heart in here is for example when Garfields finds a special present for Jon's grandmother. He and Odie spend the holidays with Jon and his family. Jon's father is very funny in here. He always seems like he cannot be arsed to do something and then still does it with the boys somehow making fun of him in a playful manner, for example when he reads the story to them. A really entertaining 24 minutes here and Lorenzo Music's (rip) voice is simply perfect for Garfield. Very much recommended.

Enjoyable. Bring back the Christmas specials

[rebeljenn · 5/10 · 25 November 2005]

The 'Garfield Christmas Special' is another one of those films from my childhood that were much enjoyed and much appreciated. As usual, 'Garfield' brings in some humor followed by some lessons on how to be a good boy. In this film, Garfield goes with Jon to the country to spend Christmas with Grandma. One of the events is Garfield getting a gift for Grandma and learning the true spirit of Christmas.

As always, 'Garfield' is enjoyable and educational for children. There is plenty of humor so the film does not 'talk down' the meaning of Christmas. Rather, it makes it enjoyable and makes it understood through emotion. I miss these old Christmas specials. I wish they would show them again.

Incredible xmas cartoon

[ogami-itto · 30 June 2004]

Garfield, that loveable fat lazy cat. One of my favourite characters from childhood. I used to get Garfield vids from my local rental store and watch them over and over. All of them seemed amazing at the time but the Christmas special was always my favourite. Now, almost twenty years later the cartoon still receives regular plays in my home. The plot is simple Garfield, Odie and Jon spend a family Christmas in the farm home that Jon grew up in. The songs are great, it's funny, sweet and ultimately moving. It manages to avoid the sentimentality that usually crops up in Christmas specials just by having Garfield constantly undercutting the feel-good nature with cynicism. Show this to the children in your life. It really is magical in a way that all the Disney animations could never be - because it has heart.

Garfield Does It Again

[StreepFan126 · 10/10 · 4 November 2002]

America's favorite fat cat return to television in this Christmas special. Garfield, Jon and Odie return to Jon's family farm for the holdiays. Garfield fins a friend in Jon's recently widowed grandmother. The rest of the family acts just like Jon.

The thing that seperates this from most of the Garfield specials is the touching scene (SEMI-SPOILER) There is a scene where Garfield is sitting on Grandma's lap, while Grandma is choking back tears due to all the happy memories that she shared with her late husband. Hard to choke back tears yourself!

Warm Family Classic

[tiskec · 8/10 · 6 November 2016]

This is a Christmas family classic. I remember looking forward to Garfield every year around Christmas when I was a little kid. The show made our family come together with warm laughter and good spirits.

Seriously, who doesn't like Garfield? Mr. Davis, thank you for all those great years of the Garfield specials. The Christmas special in- particular. I loved this episode so much.

As one of millions of viewers, we all know Garfield is fun for the whole family, and can bring classic humor to our hearts. I mean it really. Who doesn't like Garfield? There is only one question that many others have wondered as well. Why do they call John's brother Doc-Boy in the Christmas special?

wow

[journey794 · 10/10 · 11 December 2003]

This movie is great. We taped a long time ago when I was just a kid and my family and I have watched it every year consistently. It has never gotten old to us-it still makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but still laughing at the same time. A must watch!!! :)

A Christmas family favourite

[vixstein · 10/10 · 17 August 2021]

I remember when I was a kid watching this on TV and knowing christmas was coming soon I still watch it every year it's not christmas without it!

If not one of the best christmas specials ever made

[nxxnne · 10/10 · 4 October 2022]

Grew up watching a lot of Garfield, and this one... it has a special place in my heart, the plot is simple, but that doesn't mean it's bad, because it isn't, it's a heart warming movie, the nostalgia of it, the scene where the Grandma plays the piano, iconic, this movie will forever have a special place in my heart, this movie just, it makes you feel home, it keeps the true spirit of christmas, it has it's own charm, I love every Garfield special but, this one.. my favorite of them all, not to speak, Garfield and friends, love that show as well, if you've never watched this before, you should.

Excellent holiday special which is very entertaining and appetizing

[Catherine_Grace_Zeh · 9/10 · 27 August 2008]

In my opinion, this is an excellent holiday special which is very entertaining and appetizing. However, I couldn't bear seeing Grandma (voice of Pat Carroll) sitting by herself on Christmas Eve. In addition, the thing that really makes this special worth watching is the music, especially "Christmas Is Here" and "An Old-Fashioned Christmas." When those songs are performed, I always get warm and tingly. I would have to say that's my favorite song of this special. If you ask me, Jim Davis is a really good artist. In conclusion, I highly recommend this excellent holiday special which is very entertaining and appetizing to everyone, especially all you fans of the comic strip who have not seen it. When you see it, prepare to smile, have a good time, and bon appetit.

A bit to sentimental, you would not find a strip in the comics this saccharine.

[Aaron1375 · 5/10 · 30 November 2011]

I enjoy reading Garfield in the comic section of the paper everyday. He is funny, his strip one of those that takes itself seriously next to never and if all the other strips fail, his is the only one that delivers. That is why this holiday based movie is kind of the pits. The funniest part was the first part where Garfield has the dream of the ultimate X-mas gift. After that it is time for Jon to take Garfield and Odie to the farm where they meet Jon's family and it just is not as funny as it should be as we meet grandma and everyone is trying to find the perfect gift. I realize it tries to impart a lesson on what X-mas should be, but there are more than enough specials of this ilk on the airwaves during the holiday season, what would be so wrong if we had something that was just funny? I want the sarcastic overweight Garfield, not the highly sympathetic one. I want Odie kicked off the table, not making a gift for Garfield. The entire special just is not like the comics at all, but then not many of the cartoon versions of Garfield are like the strip. Still, this was a change of pace back in 1987 as by then we had seen all the same holiday specials again and again. Though they still rank ahead of this one for the most part.

Surprisingly Great

[aidanratesmovies · 10/10 · 22 December 2020]

I have been a huge garfield fan since I was a little kid. Having nothing to do recently, and being cooped up inside, I decided to rewatch the Garfield Christmas Special and I was truly dumbfounded at how enjoyable it was. It may seem like just another Garfield adventure at first, but deep down it's an incredibly sweet, and genuine little Christmas special that is just so much fun to watch, and even made me tear up a bit toward the end. I particularly liked the character of the Grandma, Jon's Grandma to be exact, who took to being with Garfield a lot during the film. It's a very well written special, and is certainly underrated, deserving the same appreciation as other christmas classics like Rudolph and Charlie Brown. In the end, The Garfield Christmas special was a nostalgic fun blast, but it also was a tender and sweet little special I will certainly have to watch again.

My Rating: 10/10

Great Garfield Christmas Special!

[SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain · 8/10 · 12 December 2011]

Before the advent of atrocious CGI, there were 2D animated Garfield cartoons. And they were awesome. Garfield's pessimistic and tired tone is somehow perfect for the Christmas season. It was great that they tried something that captures your average family Christmas, rather than trying to force characters into another adaptation of A Christmas Carol (as much as I do love that). Jon returns to his family farm for some simply sweet offerings of tradition. The mom cooks, and in one particularly humorous scene the dad is forced to read a children's Christmas story to his now grown sons. We also see Odie trying his hardest to make a gift for Garfield, and grandmother reminiscing about her deceased husband, in a heartfelt scene which never becomes schmaltzy. It does a lot in its 23 minutes, and is everything Christmas should be.