A movie shoutout

I wanted to take a moment to highlight one of my favorite movies of 2024. I know that with all the great movies that this year has offered us, it’s going to sound a little insulting to highlight this one. I may even lose some credibility as a movie critic. I guess that’s fine, because the truth is that I just can’t get this movie out of my head. 

But what movie is it, you ask? It’s the new Garfield. Yeah, I know-I’m as surprised as you are. I wouldn’t exactly say it’s the best movie that 2024 gave us, heaven knows I’m not that blind. But it’s the one that has stuck with me through the test of time. I think it’s because I wasn’t expecting anything more than a good, fun time, and it delivered on that in spades. It didn’t take itself too seriously and also managed to produce a half decent storyline as well.

But as I was preparing to write this shoutout, I puzzled over how much I should highlight the fact that it wasn’t received as a masterpiece. It kind of reminds me of The Road to El Dorado, in that it’s still fun, but didn’t get fantastic scores by fans or critics. (That one still baffles me-did they hear Elton John’s soundtrack?) 

But this isn’t another rant about how we don’t truly know how to gauge the quality of movies. I guess all I really want to say is that I don’t have my critic hat on right now. I don’t think it deserves a higher place in cinema history than the likes of Wicked, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and some of the other truly noteworthy movies that came out this year. All I’m saying is that this one is stuck in my memory, and that it holds a special place in my personal year of movie memories. 

But I will give it this: it does have a good moral. Between punchlines about cheese and lasagne, it tells the tale of a child who starts to see how much parents do for their kids behind the scenes. It effectively highlights the gap between what a child sees and what a parent does, even going as far as showing how kids tend to misinterpret things sometimes. I appreciated that element and the way they captured it. I think we all need that reminder sometimes. 

I still say this movie has a higher fun factor than most give it credit for. I’m sure this movie will be all but forgotten in the next few years, but it won’t be completely lost to time as long as I’m around. I’ll probably be grabbing this tone for my personal collection in the near future.

So take some time to hug your parents today. Talk about different memories and ask them about how they remember them. Pick their brains for the other half of the story and give them props for just how much they did to give you the life they felt you deserved. 

And maybe give Garfield a second chance. It was actually pretty fun.

I pray that God brings those conversations up today and steers them to a place that allows you to bond a little more with your parents (or kids) today. May your day be blessed as you reflect on 2024.

Until Next Time,

May Peace be your Guide.