A Strange, Lovely Teaser for 'Marley & Me'
Filed under: Comedy, 20th Century Fox, Trailers and Clips
I'm all for teaser trailers that reveal very little, especially as an alternative to the Robert Zemeckis school of trailers meant, apparently, to replace the finished film. And while I'm deeply skeptical of Marley & Me, an adaptation of local Philly journalist John Grogan's sappy man-and-his-dog memoir, I love the teaser that Fox unveiled today on the official website for the Christmas release. The reason I like it so much, I think, is that it played a trick on me. I heard the Chariots on Fire theme, saw the slow motion images, concluded that the labrador puppy and Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston's happy couple were triumphantly running toward one another, and kind of rolled my eyes. But then I thought, wait, that doesn't make sense -- they're clearly running in the same direction along the beach in the separate shots. Then it dawned on me; I watched the thing again, saw Aniston's concerned expression and the empty leash in Wilson's hand, and laughed out loud. Clever stuff.
The movie is directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) and -- on the bright side -- written by Scott Frank (The Lookout, Minority Report). It's the first work Owen Wilson's done since recovering from last summer's horrifying suicide attempt.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-04-2008 @ 8:47AM
Robin said...
Did you see a different trailer than the one that is up right now? The one that I just watched at the official page doesn't ever show Owen and Jennifer in separate frames.
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6-04-2008 @ 10:06AM
Eugene Novikov said...
Sorry -- I meant Wilson and Aniston were together, separate from the dog.
6-04-2008 @ 10:14AM
Erik Davis said...
My wife loved this book, and I have a dog who just came out of her puppy stages -- thus, this teaser does everything for me. My only problem with a film like this (and keep in mind I know nothing about it, really, save for a brief plot synopsis and my wife saying she loved it) is that you know, eventually, the dog is going to die. The dogs always die. And I can't handle that part. It's the reason why I've only watched Turner & Hooch once.
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6-04-2008 @ 11:46AM
totoro said...
Ugh, I hate it when films use the whole "kill the dog to show how mean the villian is/generate sympathy/revenge motive etc." It is cheap manipulation.
6-04-2008 @ 11:40AM
Robin said...
The book really is a lovely story and very heartfelt but the author keeps slipping into "Look how hilarious this comment I made is" mode (and it is supremely irritating). I hope the movie is able to skip some of that since the narration won't be as needed.
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6-04-2008 @ 1:28PM
Monika said...
That is a great teaser.
I wonder how long it took to get the puppy shot..
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6-04-2008 @ 1:35PM
Tigerlily said...
I have to concur, as much as I love these kinds of books, they always end the same, by ripping my heart out. I love dogs and have had the pleasure of sharing my life with some very special ones. I currently live with four, one of which is now a senior. Not a day goes by that I don't think about the fact that our days together are numbered.
I've often contemplated trying to write down the story of some of these great dogs, but know that as much as I'd like to memorialize their lives, I'd never be able to make it past chapter one before I had a complete breakdown. I have grieved more over losing a dog than people I've known. The age old problem with loving a pet, is they are with us for so short a time.
Marley and Me is probably not a movie I'd be able to see. I can't make it through the Incredible Journey...
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