- Garfield, wake up.
- Good morning, Jon.
- No time for small talk, Garfield.
It’s Christmas morning and you know what that means.
- Of course, I do. Christmas means presents.
Lots and lots of presents.
- First things first, Garfield.
You can’t open presents on an empty stomach.
Here are your breakfast lasagnas.
You may eat your way to the tree.
Okay, Garfield.
You wait right here while I get your gift.
[ engine running ]
- Now that’s what I call a Christmas gift.
- It’s the gift that keeps on giving, Garfield.
Here, let me show you.
Now watch this.
This gift-giving machine can read your mind.
Whatever you think of, it will give you.
Observe.
Neat, huh?
- Let me try that.
And that’s just for starters.
Now this is what Christmas is all about.
- * Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme gimme, gimme *
- * Just when you think all your presents *
* Are accounted for *
* That’s the time you gotta ask for more *
* Christmas is my favorite time of year *
* ’Cause that’s the time I get my Christmas cheer *
- * Come on and gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme *
* Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme *
* Gonna shake all the goodies right off the tree *
* Come on, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, yeah *
- Things, stuff, gadgets, toys, greed, avarice.
I love it.
- Hey, Garfield? Garfield!
Wake up.
- Huh? Oh, it’s you.
Leave your number. I’ll get back to you.
- Hey, Garfield, guess what today is.
- Listen carefully, Jon.
I don’t do pop quizzes before breakfast, okay?
- Are you ready for this, Garfield?
It’s Christmas Eve morning.
We’re gonna pack up our presents
and go to the farm for Christmas.
Won’t that be fun?
- You got a real sick sense of humor, Jon.
You know that, don’t you?
- The whole family’s gonna be there.
Dad, Mom and Grandma and Doc Boy.
- And Good Boy and Bad Boy and Oh Boy and Attaboy...
- Come on, Garfield.
We have a busy day ahead of us.
- Why is it every Christmas I get drug outta my warm bed
just to see some stupid old relatives?
And why is it I always have to go to the stupid old farm?
Why can’t they come here where my warm bed is?
And why am I whispering?
- We’re almost back on the farm now, boys.
I can almost smell Mom’s chestnut dressing
baking in the oven right now.
[ sniffs ]
- It’s not what I smell. - There’s no doubt about it.
Christmas is my favorite holiday.
The air is crisp, homes are brightly decorated,
and everybody’s walking around
with big smiles on their faces.
Yeah, well, almost everybody.
I think the best part
is watching the faces of children
and sharing the memories of being a child at Christmas.
I remember when my brother, Doc Boy, and I were little.
- Oh, brother. Here we go again.
- * Dad would chop down the tree *
- * Chores *
- * Mom would fix up a meal *
- * Work *
- * Doc Boy would get in the way *
- * Fighting Big fat hairy deal *
- * Decorating the tree *
- * Gardening *
- * Wiring all of the lights *
- * Electrical contracting *
- * Wrapping boxes and writing out cards *
- * Office work Out of sight *
- * Then we’d take those presents *
* And pile them under the tree *
* We’d barely get a wink of sleep *
* Wondering what they could be *
[ Odie barking ]
- * The special gift of Christmas *
- * Christmas *
- * That really make it great *
- * It’s so great! *
- * Are the insomnia and the anxiety *
* Kids get from having to wait *
- * Can’t wait until Christmas *
* There’s so much to do *
* Can’t wait until Christmas *
- * Wake me when it’s through *
[ Odie barks ]
- Now behave yourself this Christmas, Garfield.
- No problem. I’ll wait in the car.
[ knocking on door ]
- Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas, Mom!
- Oh, merry Christmas to you, too, honey.
Oh, it’s so nice to see you.
Here, let me take those packages.
- Hi, Dad. Merry Christmas!
- Merry Christmas, city slicker.
- Doc Boy! How’s my favorite brother?
- Don’t call me Doc Boy.
And you’ve probably forgotten I’m your only brother.
- Oh, right. - Don’t mind me.
You can visit until your lips fall off for all I care.
I’ll just sit here in the dark alone
until you decide to come over and pay your respects.
Nobody gives a hoot about an old woman like me anyway.
- How could I ignore my favorite girl?
Merry Christmas, Grandma.
- Oh, merry Christmas, Jon. - How have you been?
- Oh, I been doing okay, considering.
What’s this, Jon?
I see you’re putting on a little belly.
Is that city life making you soft?
- Ooh!
[ laughs ]
- Oh, you’re getting soft, boy.
You need to get more physical. Take me.
I do 100 sit-ups every morning. My belly is hard as a rock.
Come on. Hit me right here.
Give me your best shot.
- Uh, Grandma, you remember Garfield, don’t you?
- Well, I’ll be.
I remember back when all we had were wood-burning cats.
Lord, what’ll they think of next?
- Bizarre. - Isn’t this wonderful?
The whole family is together again for the holidays.
Oh, we are going to have such a splendid Christmas.
Oh, I’m so happy I could just burst.
- Oh, put a sock in it, dearie.
Let’s go finish dinner.
- I can see Grandma and I are gonna get along just fine.
- This is what it’s all about, right, boys?
Hard work, brisk weather and beautiful scenery.
- What scenery?
I think somebody turned the lights out.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say things
can’t get must worse than...
- [ clangs ] - Oh!
I gotta quit saying that.
- By any chance, you’re not thinking
of putting chili powder in my sausage gravy,
are you, Grandma?
- Why, no.
[ laughs ]
Heavens to Betsy, child, what would give you such a notion?
Just ’cause my chili gravy
won a Blue Ribbon at the County Fair
and your gravy didn’t even place.
Who am I to tell you how to make gravy?
The Green County Gravy Champion, that’s who.
- Hey, Garfield, where’s Odie?
- In the barn. Let’s eat.
[ laughs ]
- Hello? What’s this?
Why, it’s sausage gravy.
Perfect!
- Mm, this smells great.
[ all talking at once ]
- Doc Boy, will you say grace, please?
- Oh, Mom. - Doc Boy.
- I never know what to--
Lord, we just wanna tell you
how grateful we are for this food
and for letting us all be here together on Christmas Eve.
- Amen.
- And as surely as the waters of the streams
and the rivers find the sea, let each of us find happiness
and wisdom in this our--
Thanks, Lord. Let’s eat.
- Hey, Mom, pass the potatoes, please.
- Scalloped, whipped, fried, baked or boiled?
- Mom, you always fix too much food.
- I know, honey, I know. Now what would you like?
- I can’t decide. Just give me a piece of pie.
- Apple, peach, pumpkin, blueberry,
cherry or banana cream?
- Mm, attentive service, excellent cuisine.
However, the decor leaves something to be desired.
I give this place two stars.
- You sure are packing the food away tonight, Grandma.
- I’m eating for two now, dear.
- Ah.
- That was a great meal, Mom.
[ clearing throat ] - And you too, Grandma.
[ laughs ] - Thank you, Jon.
- Well, it wasn’t much, but I was hoping you’d like it.
- Hey, Garfield, there’s plenty of leftovers.
Would you like something to eat?
- Oh, no, thank you, Jon.
I’ve opted to watch my waistline this holiday season.
- Okay, everybody, it’s time to trim the tree!
[ gasps ]
[ all talking at once ]
- Just listen to ’em, Garfield.
All jawing at once like a bunch of banshees.
Crazy, isn’t it?
Of course, to make it through this whole life,
you have to be a little crazy.
- You said it, Grandma.
- Why, just look at me. I talk to cats.
[ laughs ]
- Careful, Dad. Don’t hurt yourself.
- Why is it we always put the stupid star on last?
Why don’t we put the star on the top of the tree,
and then put the tree up?
- Well, it just wouldn’t be Christmas
if we put the star on first, honey.
- Hey, Garfield. Come over here.
Garfield, I have a very important job for you.
It’s a dangerous assignment, but if you succeed,
you’ll be a hero.
- A hero. I like that.
- I want you to take this star up the tree
and put it on the top.
- Climbing trees is my life, sir.
If I’m not back in an hour,
send a banana cream pie after me.
This is gonna be a piece of cake.
Never send a man to do a cat’s job.
[ cheering ]
- Whoever invented Christmas trees
should be drug out into the street and shot.
- Is everybody ready? Here we go!
- Ooh!
- Nice touch.
- Why don’t you play for us, Mom?
- * Christmas is here, mistletoe and laughter *
* Carols and bells ringing to the rafters *
* Lights on the tree, candles all aglow *
* And all who pass by say hello *
- Why, hello, Garfield.
How did you know I needed a kitty in my lap?
- Wild guess.
- Since Grandpa passed on, I’ve whiled away
many a lonely hour rocking and stroking my cats.
- I envy those cats.
- Grandpa was a proud man, a strong man.
He was a good provider. We’ve never had much money
but we always had plenty of food on the table.
And he always made something special for me
and each of the children at Christmas.
Men like him didn’t feel like they could show
much affection outwardly to the children.
But on Christmas, it was okay.
He always pretended not to be excited on Christmas morning.
But his eyes gave him away.
I think...
I think it was his favorite day of the year.
Sometimes I wake up in the night
and I can still feel his strong arms around me.
[ sighs ]
This is the night I miss him most.
- * Keep Christmas here *
* In your heart *
- And now, ladies and gentlemen,
it is time for...
[ piano flourish ]
- Dad to read us our Christmas story.
- Yeah!
- Which is entitled "Binky, the Clown Who Saved Christmas."
- Do I have to do this? - Here’s the book, dear.
Now go over to your favorite chair
and we’ll all listen to you read the story.
- I’m beginning to feel a little silly
reading this book year after year.
- Oh, but think of the children, dear.
- Yeah. - They so look forward to it.
- Right, Dad.
- Yeah, let’s see if Binky saves Christmas again this year.
[ laughter ]
- Once upon a time, there was a clown named Binky
who loved children.
Every time Binky saw children, he would say, "Hey, kids."
- Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Dad, read it with more emotion.
- Yeah, yeah, and why don’t you say it like Binky says it.
[ clearing throat ]
- Every time Binky saw children,
he would say, "Hey, kids!"
Cut that out.
And once again, Binky the Clown saved Christmas for children
all over the world. The end.
- I don’t know about you, Jon.
But for a couple of minutes there,
I was getting pretty worried.
- Ooh, me too. - All right, boys.
It’s time to get ready for bed.
- All right! - Yeah.
[ coughs ]
- Odie?
Now where did he go?
- * You can never find an elf when you need one *
* When you got to get that toy beneath the tree *
- * Yeah, when an elf is what you need *
* His energy, his speed *
- * There never seems to be one that’s free *
- * Then comes that magical moment *
- * So the story goes on Christmas Eve *
- * When elves and other weirdos *
- * Things are better than your fantasy *
- * See, you can never find an elf when you need one *
* And you don’t know what you’re gonna do *
- * But if you believe *
* The magic of Christmas Eve *
* Well, then one finds you *
- I don’t believe it.
These letters must be 50 years old.
- Hey, Dad. Psst. - Hey, Dad. You awake?
- Dad? - Dad! You awake?
- Well, I’m awake now. What do you boys want?
- Is it time to open our presents yet?
- It’s 1:30 in the morning.
No, it’s not time to open presents yet!
- It is Christmas morning now, you know.
- Doc Boy has a point there, Dad.
Any time after midnight is technically
Christmas morning, you know.
- Go to bed! - All right, all right.
- Pleasant dreams, Dad. It is Christmas morning.
- I know that and you know that.
[ rooster crows ]
- Well, what do you boys wanna do first?
Do you wanna do chores, do you wanna eat breakfast,
or do you wanna open presents?
- Presents!
- Oh, Mom and Dad, thank you.
- You’re welcome, honey.
Well, that was a very nice Christmas.
- It’s not over yet. One minute.
- Why, thank you, Garfield. What’s this?
Oh, my. Oh, my.
- What are they, Grandma?
- Jon, these are love letters
your Grandpa sent me when we were courting
a long, long time ago.
My darlin’, if the sea were of ink and the sky of parchment,
I couldn’t begin to write my love for you.
[ laughs ]
When next we meet...oh, my.
[ laughs ]
- Well, what does he say, Grandma?
- It is inappropriate for a lady
to talk about her romances, my dear.
Garfield, I don’t know how you managed
to find these letters.
I think they are the nicest presents
I could have received.
Thank you very, very much.
- Yeah. You might say I just kind of fell into ’em.
[ panting ]
[ whimpers, barks ]
- What is it, Odie?
[ whimpers, barks ]
- Okay, I’m coming.
[ barks ]
- Okay, what do you want?
- Ta-da!
- Okay, what is it?
- Ooh!
- Whoa! Let me try that!
Odie, sometimes you amaze me.
This is the best present a cat could ever get.
Now and then, you’re something special.
- Aw.
- All right, you guys.
Just permit me one sentimental moment here, will you?
I have something to say. Christmas.
It’s not the giving, it’s not the getting.
It’s the loving.
There, I said it. Now get outta here.
[ Odie sighs ]
- * Let’s have a good old-fashioned Christmas *
* Down on the farm *
* A little over-eating never did you any harm *
* Let’s open up the presents *
* Eat a turkey or two *
* It’s a good old-fashioned Christmas *
* Yodel-a-ehoo *
* It’s a good old-fashioned Christmas down on the farm *
* Let’s stoke up the fire to keep our tootsies warm *
* Let’s kick off the rooftop *
* And sing a song or two *
* Let’s do this again next year *
* Yodel-a-ehoo *