When I was really little, I always thought that "Garfield on the Town" was really funny. As I aged, I thought less of it. Of course, I like the thought of someone's reconnection with his roots (such as Garfield's growing up in an Italian restaurant). What's really cool to me nowadays is knowing that Garfield's voice artist was Lorenzo Music, who was also the original voice artist of Peter Venkman (Bill Murray's character) on "The Real Ghostbusters"*. In all, Music was a sarcastic, lasagna-loving cat hunting evil spirits! Anyway, this movie isn't really anything special, unless you look at it from the perspective of retracing ones roots.*Incidentally, Bill Murray provided Garfield's voice in the 2004 movie.

Garfield on the Town is a fantastic animated special! The program was first broadcast when I was a toddler but I own the DVD containing the title so I can enjoy the interesting Garfield cartoon whenever I wish. This particular one is perhaps the most fascinating Garfield special I have seen out of all of those that were ever made.Garfield on the Town is amusing for many reasons. The special features a gang of ruthless felines, the CLAWS, led by the self-absorbed Ali, who has a huge appetite for violence. When Garfield is on the streets and gets hungry, he crosses paths with Ali and his gang of vicious, greedy, arrogant, and sadistic cats. Once Garfield realizes that he can't defend himself against this evil group, he decides to hide in an old abandoned building. There he is reunited with his mother and grandfather and is reminded that he was born in what used to be an Italian restaurant. I got real teary-eyed when Garfield reminisces about his earlier years. When the CLAWS gang finds out where Garfield is hiding they demand that the family give him up or be beaten to a bloody pulp. They fail to realize that Garfield's family is very tough and strong and will not tolerate bullies. In the end, Ali and the rest of the CLAWS get their butts kicked and then disappear. I would have to imagine that the CLAWS disbanded and left town never to be heard from ever again! I was overjoyed when the CLAWS were defeated by the good cats, Garfield and his loving (though rather eccentric) family.

We all know how much Garfield hates going to the vet. So after wrecking Jon's house the fat cat is dragged, kicking and screaming, into the car. But even on the way there Garfield can't sit a peace. Until he falls out of the window and into the busy street. He quickly learns that freedom from Jon and life on the streets isn't all fun and games. No one is kind to him, he's cold and quickly hungry. So when he dips into a smelly garbage can he's met with hostility from a punk alley cat. Being house cat and used to home comforts, Garfield cannot match the aggression of this alley cat. More so when a hundred of them (looking more like the Critters from the movie of the same name, than alley cats) come after him. Garfield takes refuge in an old building which just happens to be Italian Restaurant where he was born. There he meets him mother and the rest of his family. Tho he doesn't belong. And Garfield learns that his real family is Jon and Odie. It's a very sweet natured story and the ending is cute and touching. There is a good reason why it won an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program.

This is a great story that really takes Garfield back to his humble beginnings in an Italian restaurant.Garfield is separated from Jon after a battle NOT to visit the vet. Pretty soon he finds himself stranded in the middle of an urban jungle, filled with dangers hitherto unknown to him.After running into a gang of surly alley cats, Garfield hides out in an old building, where he meets his long, lost mother! After a brief reunion and a trip down memory lane, he meets his large family, who are known for being "mousers" (not Garfield's type).Later on, the evil cat gang finds Garfield, and a large fight ensues. The good cats win, and Garfield is faced with a dilemma: stay with his newfound family or go home. It has a good ending.I give this movie a 7 out of 10. Go Garfield!