Marley & Me

"Marley & Me"

The film "Marley & Me" tells a true story about a family and their neurotic yellow Labrador Retriever named Marley. "Marley & Me" is an adaptation of the bestselling memoir written by John Grogan and directed by David Frankel that most dog owners would agree is an honest testimony of what owning a misbehaved pet is like. From beginning to end this film kept me engaged and always had me thinking what crazy stunt Marley would pull off next. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston play the main characters who take on the responsibility of a pet to 'test the waters' to see if they are ready for parenthood. This film is surely to leave a lasting impression on anyone who watches it or ever owned a pet. "Marley & Me" is not just a story about a rowdy dog that misbehaves. It has a deeper meaning of how a dog can bring the best and the worst out in people but in the long run make them a better person. This film gives a genuine perception of how the love and companionship of a dog can change your life and how they become a part of your family.

Those of us who have owned pets know that it isn't an easy task and that our pets don't train themselves. Marley is energetic, untamed, and devours everything in sight. The very first time John brings Marley home he had to leave shortly after to go pick his wife up from the airport. While he was gone a thunderstorm blew in and terrified Marley. Upon his brief return Marley destroyed the garage: chewed up boxes, turned over shelves, and even chewed through drywall. This was just the very beginning of Marley's bad conduct. Later on in the movie he eats a necklace, he 'humps' his trainer, and defecates in the ocean on a public beach. These examples are just a few reasons why John Grogan dubbed Marley "the world's worst dog." But truth be known...he really wasn't.

From watching the previews, I figured this movie would be a childish, romantic comedy that included a spunky dog. I couldn't have been more wrong. The performances of Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston are sincere and convincing in their title characters as John and Jennifer Grogan. They had chemistry and delivered authentic emotions that every married couple experiences. Wilson and Aniston are both established movie stars and I was excited to see how they shared the screen with a dog. Aniston shows her emotional side when she experiences a miscarriage and then later on has a minor breakdown with of what John believes to be postpartum depression. However, Wilson delivers his best performance yet when the beloved Marley gets sick and is put to sleep. Wilson is remarkable at achieving the heartfelt emotion that comes in the last few moments in Marley's life. Grogan said everything I would I have to my ailing dog and Wilson perfected it.

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