Marley & Me Review

Released: 1 Jan 2009
Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Alan Arkin, Eric Dane
Director: David Frankel
Screenplay: Scott Frank and Don Roos, Novel - John Grogan
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rated: PG Mild coarse language, sexual references and themes
Running Time: 111 Minutes

Heel The Love

Synopsis:
John Grogan's bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with Marley & Me. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog.

My Verdict:
After journalist John Grogan (Owen Wilson) marries journalist Jennifer (Jennifer Aniston), they move to sunny Florida where John writes a weekly column for a newspaper that becomes a hit based around his life including the escapades involving his gregarious, easily excited Labrador Retriever, Marley, who was bought as a pre-cursor to the three children the Grogan's would eventually have. Marley & Me chronicles the lives of the Grogan's and Marley based on John Grogan's best-selling novel.

Essentially a movie about relationships, the main thrust is the interaction between Marley and John and details how their partnership changes as the years pass. John never feels totally satisfied with his lot, sometimes pining for the life of single friend and colleague, Sebastian (Eric Dane), whilst Jennifer sacrifices her career to become a full-time mother and spends much time lamenting this choice.

Owen Wilson is relaxed and fitting as John and Jennifer Aniston easily walks through her role. One standout is Alan Arkin as Arnie Klein, John's boss. His crisp wit delivered with such confidence is brilliant and always welcome. The other real stars are the dogs that played Marley. Given that 22 different dogs played the role, there are times when this does become a little too apparent, upsetting the continuity and distracting from his endearing personality, but they are all none-the-less totally lovable.

There are many amusing scenes, especially when Marley is a puppy/adolescent but an overly long finale that blatantly tugs at the heartstrings is a little trying and will definitely make some reach for the tissues. Marley & Me is still enjoyable enough thanks mainly to the seemingly never-ending antics of Marley who defies efforts to be contained. It will certainly strike a chord with anyone who has ever owned a pet, especially a dog and even more for those whose dog becomes more than just a dog and is one of the family. Not groundbreaking but still mildly satisfying.

Rating : **

Christina Bruce

Jennifer Aniston Marley and Me Interview

www.girl.com.au/jennifer-aniston-marley-and-me-interview.htm