Published on
Movies about dogs are tricky. No, make that movies about animals are tricky. The results can be desastrous especially when the animals are humanized, in some cases to the extreme by making them talk. Marley & Me leaps over all of the pitfalls with ease by letting Marley be what Marley is; a dog.
No wonder as the script is based on the tales of a columnist who’s favorite subject was his own dog; Marley a.k.a. worlds worst dog. Marley is the kind of dog Cesar Millan would tie to a tree in the woods and leave it there. But there’s no such harshness here. Marley is never abandoned, he’s a member of the family for life. He’s the kind of dog that knows when to quit just in time. Smart dog!
Marley & Me is a simple story about a family and their terror pet and how it influences their life througout the years. Marley is more of a supporting actor as most of the story surrounds Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. It’s their life that we follow with carreeropportunities and babies.
Marley & Me is a nice story but nothing extraordinary. Even though Marley is a menace you can’t help but get attached to that big blonde log. That’s where the power of the film lies. Even though these people are your basic average joes who don’t have any remotely interesting factors you’re sure to get pretty emotional at the ending. But it’s a too long of a build-up to the punchline in my opinion.
