JIM Davis's popular cartoon strip chronicling the exploits of an overweight cat with a passion for lasagne is enjoyed by a phenomenal 260 million readers around the world.

The ginger feline, with a belly almost as large as his ego, has been ripe for the big screen treatment for some time.

Now, thanks to rapid advances in computer animation, he finally waddles on to celluloid, poised to insult anyone who gets in his way.

Life is beautiful for Garfield (voiced by Bill Murray).

Master of his suburban, white picket fence universe, he enjoys a quiet and contented life with his long-suffering owner Jon (Breckin Meyer).

The domestic idyll is rudely interrupted when Jon takes Garfield for a check-up with sexy veterinarian Dr Liz (Jennifer Love Hewitt), and she in turn persuades lovesick Jon to adopt a dim-witted dog called Odie as a pet.

Garfield is understandably horrified. He has been forced to share his habitat with the stupidest mutt in existence, who spends hours chasing his tail, crashing into the furniture and barking without provocation.

To add insult to injury, Jon falls for the dumb dog routine hook, line and sinker.

Garfield schemes to rid himself of the dim-witted mutt and soon has Odie locked up in the local dog pound.

The plan backfires when TV celebrity Happy Chapman (Stephen Tobolowsky) poses as Odie's owner then uses electric shock therapy to beat the dog into submission.

Spurred on by his fellow felines Nermal (David Eigenberg) and Arlene (Debra Messing), Garfield scampers lazily to his dopey rival's rescue.

Garfield: The Movie is a breezy romp, which bears only passing resemblance to the comic strip.

The computer-generated feline looks impressive but doesn't sit convincingly in the real-life setting: his facial features are too cartoon-like and exaggerated.

Also, the one scene of animal cruelty, in which Happy Chapman subjects Odie to electric shocks, might upset younger viewers and ardent animal lovers.

Murray's tour-de-force vocal performance is the singular saving grace.

His dry, sarcastic wit is perfectly suited to the lead character, whether it be moments of self-reflection ("My life has been saved by the miracle of lasagne") or tormenting his master ("There's my ball", he quips as Jon slips on the wayward toy).

At 80 minutes, the film certainly doesn't outstay its welcome. Although by no means purrfect, Garfield: The Movie is energetic family fun.

Rating 5/10