The second helping of the lasagne-loving cat proves to be a tastier offering than the first.

The original, laboured outing back in 2004 had many viewers unhesitatingly composing a mental check-list - bin-bag, bricks and a convenient canal. But things have improved.

Bill Murray still provides the voice of the corpulent cat but this time he seems to actually care what he's saying on the podgy puss's behalf.

Breckin Meyer and Jennifer Love Hewitt are back as the cat's dim-witted owner and his veterinarian girlfriend...but it's when Garfield cuts loose with his animal chums that things take shape.

Following Meyer (by stowing away in his suitcase) to an animal conference in Britain, Garfield finds himself changing places with his English doppelganger Prince (Tim Curry).

Tossed into the lap of luxury, the manipulative moggy quickly succumbs to a life of indolence, waited upon by faithful butler Ian Abercrombie and his obsequious bulldog (voiced by Hoskins).

However, there's trouble in paradise in the form of Billy Connolly's rapacious aristo, who plans a nasty fate for Garfield in his pursuit of the estate.

A-grade production values are taken as read in these outings but Garfield also has the edge as a furry anti-hero who can make the fur fly with one acidic barb.

How can you not take to a film that features Vinnie Jones as a half-witted attack dog?

Tim Evans