The two central human characters chat about the live-action film version of the Jim Davis comic strip features a CGI main character.
Breckin Meyer
How did you get involved in this film?
They fed-exed me the script to South Africa, and it's by the same guys who did Toy Story, which I loved, and I really liked it. I called my agent back and
said: 'This is fun.' I had never done a kid's movie before. I did a voice in Pinocchio, but never really a kid's action movie. I've got nieces now and I want
them to be able to go and see a movie of mine, because they can't really watch Roadtrip. (Laughs)
You knew Love (Jennifer Love Hewitt) before, right?
Yeah, I've known Love for about ten years. She's kind of like a little sister to me.
Can you talk about your character?
Yeah, John Arbuckle who according to the comic book strip is a perpetually single owner of Garfield. He's kind of unlucky in love right now. (Laughs) He's
been pretty much unlucky in love his whole life! (Laughs) He's got his cat and that's about it. In the beginning of the story, he acquires the dog because
of Liz, played by Love, the vet, who he's had a crush on since ever. He's never had the moxy to say anything to her or ask her on a date, and through the
dog, he gets up the courage to ask her out. And they kind of fall for each other. Basically, he's Costello to Garfield's Abbott.
Why did you like this script in particular?
The best kid's movies to me are the ones that parents can go and see as well, like Shrek and Monsters Inc., Where it has inside jokes for the adults as well.
As a 28 year old actor, when I'm reading a script, I don't just want to do it because my nieces will like this, I want to do it because I want to go and see
it with my nieces. This has stuff like that. It's like The Simpsons in a way.
How familiar were you with the cartoon?
I was pretty familiar, because my mum was a big Garfield fan. Every Christmas, we would always buy my mum the new Garfield book. When you're a little kid and
you don't have a lot of money to get mum a gift, you've got your eight dollars or whatever, you get her a Garfield stuffed animal! Next year, you think, I'll
get her another Garfield stuffed animal. (Laughs) So, I was always buying her Garfield stuff. So, I actually emailed my mum a picture I got on the website of
John, and said: 'My next role.' And she knew right away who it was.
How difficult is it for you to work with CGI?
It's different. I was a little concerned when I first signed because I have never done something like that. I had done special effects before, but I've never
had the main character not be there. I've had some actors who haven't been there in their heads before, but I've never had the actual character not be there!
I called Matt Lillard who was Shaggy in Scooby Doo, and I said: 'Hey, how in the hell do you do this?' And Matt, who has a lot of energy, said: 'You just do
it. You just commit 100 per cent. You just believe he's there.' You suddenly revert back to when you were eight years old and you had an imaginary friend,
and you were playing with your action figures. It got easy by the second day. I've been goofing off my whole life, but now I'm getting paid to!! Even
between takes you find yourself talking to the cat.
Is Garfield supposed to talk?
I don't hear Garfield. It's kind of like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, when the other cats can communicate with Garfield, but I don't hear him talk. He's talking
cat talk. He understands me though. It's like the comic strip.
What movie are you most recognised for by your fans?
It depends on the age of the person. If they are between 15 and 28, it's Roadtrip. If it's an adult, it's Kate & Leopold or it's Rat Race. Clueless every now
and then.
What do they say?
Sometimes people call me by may name, which kind of freaks me out, because I always think they know me. If they shout 'Breckin'...my first thought is: 'Oh, I
don't know them, but I would say.....how are you doing?' Whenever I'm on the basketball court which I play often, the kids will call you by your movie. Like
they'll say: 'Yo, Roadtrip, what's up?!' Suddenly your name is your movie.
How do you like working with Jennifer?
We've had a lot of fun. She's like my little sister, so we just goof off all day. I'm allergic to cats, I'm not a huge cat fan, but I love dogs, so all day
we're playing with the dogs. We have a lot of bashful playing with each other, like our characters.
So, you're allergic to cats?
Yeah, I get watery eyes and sneeze. I just get really unattractive.....even more so! I didn't tell them that until I was in the movie. On the first day of
work, they got me a prescription to deal with my cat allergy. Fortunately, there are not a lot of cats on the set, it's a CGI cat, which doesn't moult.
Do you have a pet?
I have two dogs, Monkey and Scarlet.
Do you have a philosophy about it?
I don't have any kids yet, but I play with my nieces the same way I play with my dogs. It keeps you young to some degree. I'm bad owner, because I spoil my
dogs.
What kind of dogs are they?
They're mutts. They're rescue dogs.
How were your experiences in South Africa?
It was neat. The furthest I had gone was Australia for three days. You don't know what to expect really. I thought I'd be living in a hut. I got there and
I realised I'm a closed-minded moron! Cape Town was beautiful and very western. They have KFC and Taco Bell, and it's full of the most beautiful people. It
made me feel really ugly. The time difference really kills you, when you just want to call home to say hi. It's such a pain in the ass.
You've done an action film and now you're making a kid's film, so what's next?
I don't know, maybe an adult film! Porn? (Laughs) Then I'd have done everything. Maybe I do a period piece. I'm going to take a break after this.
What do you do?
I literally sit a room at home, play video games and play basketball. Hang out with my wife.
