The advertising for Marley & Me set me against it, I'm not gonna lie. I didn't know much about it, except that it was about the "worst dog in the world" who was, of course, actually the best. The trailers made it seem like a not particularly funny money-making vehicle for the two stars in need of a hit.
Well, they got a hit at the box office, as was expected, but what I didn't expect was how much I would enjoy the movie. It's true, Marley & Me is about the dog, but it's also about a man and his family, and their realization that life can't be planned. The ample talents of Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston certainly help the movie along, but this really was surprisingly good. The dog goes through all the major changes of their lives with them, and as we watch the journey as well we don't quite realize how caught up in it all we are until the very end.
It's not a particularly fast-moving movie, and it is silly, but somehow the whole thing pulls itself off very well. It kept me entertained the whole time, that's for sure, and by the end it's clear how much the movie's actually meant to us; don't be too surprised to feel a tear forming in the corner of your eye. It's a credit to the filmmakers as well that the whole thing never seems too sappy to take. The supporting cast (Eric Dane, Alan Arkin, Kathleen Turner) were all good as well.
So take a chance on Marley & Me. I know that this one never looked any good, but trust me: It's worth your time. Sit back, relax, and enjoy! 7/10 stars!
Jay Addison
Well, they got a hit at the box office, as was expected, but what I didn't expect was how much I would enjoy the movie. It's true, Marley & Me is about the dog, but it's also about a man and his family, and their realization that life can't be planned. The ample talents of Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston certainly help the movie along, but this really was surprisingly good. The dog goes through all the major changes of their lives with them, and as we watch the journey as well we don't quite realize how caught up in it all we are until the very end.
It's not a particularly fast-moving movie, and it is silly, but somehow the whole thing pulls itself off very well. It kept me entertained the whole time, that's for sure, and by the end it's clear how much the movie's actually meant to us; don't be too surprised to feel a tear forming in the corner of your eye. It's a credit to the filmmakers as well that the whole thing never seems too sappy to take. The supporting cast (Eric Dane, Alan Arkin, Kathleen Turner) were all good as well.
So take a chance on Marley & Me. I know that this one never looked any good, but trust me: It's worth your time. Sit back, relax, and enjoy! 7/10 stars!
Jay Addison