Review: Marley & Me
Filed under: Comedy, Drama, Theatrical Reviews, 20th Century Fox, Family Films
I can't vouch for John Grogan's 2005 best-selling memoir, Marley & Me, in which owning a yellow lab helped the journalist (Owen Wilson) and his wife (Jennifer Aniston) tolerate any number of trials and tribulations that came their way -- many of which could be chalked up to the carnage-prone canine himself. I suspect that, unlike their on-screen counterparts, the Grogans actually showed some indications of aging after thirteen years and three kids. I doubt that John had a perpetual bachelor of a best bud (Eric Dane) who lingered around to both knock and envy his marriage with convenient doses of sarcasm and handsomeness. I question that the couple could own a picturesque Pennsylvania estate on just one reporter's salary. But I'm fairly sure that both the book and the film shared a common goal -- to make its audience sit, stay, laugh, cry, and then get on with their lives -- and at those modest aspirations, the movie version pretty much succeeds.
The above-mentioned trials and tribulations begin when the newlyweds move to Miami. Jennifer (Jennifer) already has a job at the Palm Beach Post, and despite his unkempt appearance and lack of journalism experience, John sweeps the editor of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Alan Arkin, curmudgeonly as ever) off his feet and right into a job. Okay, neither a trial nor a tribulation, but soon enough, John is advised to curb Jennifer's desire for a child by adopting a young yellow lab that they name after Bob Marley, and he proceeds to chew anything AND everything... and gets kicked out of obedience school... and closes one of few local dog beaches with a single squat.
Similar shenanigans continue with episodic determination, with Marley running rampant until enough time passes for "the world's worst dog" to take a back-seat to career concerns, rough marriage patches, and the occasional move. Director David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) shoots every antic, mishap and temper tantrum with no great flair, and one suspects that screenwriters Scott Frank and Don Roos have done precious little in adapting Grogan's book rather than adding the requisite gruff boss and suave best friend. The acting is equally serviceable and simplistic: Wilson plays it mellow, Aniston fretful, Dane free-wheeling, and Arkin ornery. (In her one scene as a stern obedience instructor, Kathleen Turner merits only a mixture of pity and concern.)
Of course, we're constantly reminded that Marley's the "world's worst dog" -- in case his home-wrecking antics and perfectly adorable appearance weren't enough to win us over -- and sure enough, what starts out in hour one somewhere near Beethoven ends up in hour two somewhere near My Dog Skip, and while there's not a problem with Frankel, Frank, Roos and the crew bringing the film to its inevitable tear-jerking conclusion, it's a shame that the whole affair is dragged out for as long as it is here.
Anyone, though, who knocks the film sight unseen because it might make them cry is selling it (and maybe even themselves) short. Having lost my own family's oldest dog just a few months back, I can't say that the climax quite got tears out of these eyes, but I appreciate the notion that this dog proved to be endearing enough that I hated to see him go. For any film, no matter how simple, to convincingly replicate thirteen years of loyal companionship within a mere two hours is no small feat, and if you as a viewer can't stand the thought of losing the ones you love, then don't see Marley & Me.
(Or Old Yeller.) (Or Bambi.)
Oh, and try not to have any close family or friends. Because they're all going to go at some point, and the best we can hope is that their company is worth enjoying in the meantime. It's not possible to ask much more of Marley & Me, but in ways both shallow and humble, it does delivers a fair share of ups and downs.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-27-2008 @ 6:53PM
Jackie said...
My 9yr old grandson wanted to see this movie for his b-day. So Grandma and Poppa took him. We laughed, we cried and on the way home we all talked (which in our busy lives is very seldom) and reminisced on our dogs our families have and those that left us with such fond memories.I too have had a few dogs from hell over the years and still do now and in many parts in that movie both my husband and I kept looking at each other with our own memories of past and present that triggered. Remembering my children when they were younger,mischevious and the dog that was always involved and in trouble right with them. Nothing is more beautiful then to hear a child's laughter and the excitement of him telling this story to his mom and dad on the phone.He said to me at the end of the movie "Grandma it feels like tears are in my throat".And from the look on the faces of the theatre goers leaving between the sniffling and puffy eyes a few had tears in their throats also. I wish my whole family could have watched the movie together what a pleasant memorable conversation would come of it.I came home and hugged that "dog from hell" and I guess for now I'll overlook the paper towels he tore under the table while we were gone.
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12-27-2008 @ 6:54PM
beth said...
This movie was my life on the screen. My dog IS Marley! I have had tantrums and wanted to send him to a farm. How funny to see these things on the screen. (I wish I looked like Jennifer Aniston). The end of the movie was very hard to watch, but I loved the whole movie.
12-27-2008 @ 9:54PM
tammy said...
This was a great movie I went with my 16 y/o son which is a rare thing for us (to old to go with mom) But we laughed so hard seeing ourselves with our dog that my son and daughter grew up with and died from old age. We saw so many things from our own family. This movie was also a blessing my son. He started talking about when he and his sister were small with our dog Nick. This also brought conversation about his sister who was lost in a car crash, he has not talked about her since the accident. So thank you for this movie and helping our family start to heal. With laughter and tears..............
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12-30-2008 @ 5:39PM
kathleen said...
Should come with a warning that the dog will be put down and you will feel it and see it. I FLED the theatre in tears as I had just put my precious pet down in April and it got to me. I was so embarrassed at the emotions spilling out of me in my hurry to flee the last scenes, I fell on the way out...PLEASE RECOMMENDED NOT TO BRING CHILDREN OR REcENT PET LOSERS! HORRIBLE
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12-30-2008 @ 5:41PM
William Goss said...
What'd you think would happen to an old dog? How else would it have ended? It's terrible, yes, but it's true, and not a worse movie for it.
12-31-2008 @ 9:07AM
Patty said...
As soon as I got home I e-mailed my friends about how much this movie made me cry & that it was like "Old Yeller"...with that said I also included that in fact it was a very true and good movie because it basically captures what life is about & how the companionship of a loving pet can sustain you even with the added inconvieneces pets (labradors especially) can offer...this movie is actually something that I can relate to very well...I saw it with my husband, daughter (9 yrs) & son (7yrs)...we currently have a black lab who will be 1 yr old next month and we lost our almost 10 yr old chocolate lab right before christmas 2007 & had to put him down as a family...go see this movie if you love dogs and can deal with the reality of life and death & want to cry. p.s. how could brad pitt leave jennifer for angelina anyway?
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1-01-2009 @ 1:25AM
jessica said...
Well, I first thought this movie was going to be another flop for Jennifer, but it proved me wrong. It portrayed a life journey of two people and it was very real. The dog was so cute, but hello!! it should have come with a warning that the dog was getting put to sleep!! Every single person in the theature cried their eyes out, including the men. All in all, it was funny, cute, and entertaning. Thumbs up!
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1-01-2009 @ 4:53PM
Susan Hunter said...
I had to admire Owen Wilson's character for staying with Marley to the bitter end. A lot of dog owners leave and allow the vet to put the dog down. Staying with your best friend is the last gift that you can give.
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1-12-2009 @ 6:06PM
Chelsey said...
I watch it the day after it came out. At the end I was balling my eyes out crying.........I ran out of the theater, in my panic to get away to go cry and....I fell and I fell hard I was were you can get all your popcorn and stuff (the lobby I think it is called) which didn't make me feel better cause people probably thought I was crying that hard cause I fell. Lol. I was so embarassed I started screaming at them that I was crying cause the dog die.......lol they must have thought there was something wrong with me. Here is exactly what I said: "Go away! I'M NOT HURT!" The other people around me: "Then way are you crying?" Me: "THE DOG DIED THE DOG FREAKIN DIED! LEAVE ME ALONEEEE!"
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1-20-2009 @ 11:39PM
George Bauhaus said...
And I thought Old Yeller was sad (It Was), but I balled like a baby at the end of this one. The line that made me laugh the most was when Jennifer said "This Necklace Has Been Through Alot"
It's mostly fun to watch, but a tearful ending... Bring some tissues.
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1-22-2009 @ 4:56PM
gabby gonzales said...
it is very good and sad at the sametime
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3-23-2009 @ 9:26AM
Shanna said...
This was a great movie! I loved the comedy side and how the movie made you feel like it was your life. I am 20 and balled my eyes out the whole last 30 minutes of the movie. I called my dog up onto the couch with me and held her tight and cried. A great movie but be prepared to cry!
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