Not since “Old Yeller” has a story about a family and their dog resulted in such tears. And because everyone at one time or another has owned and lost a beloved pet, tears are understandable. Soon after journalists John Grogan (Owen Wilson) and his wife, Jennifer (Jennifer Aniston) move to Florida, John buys a puppy as a birthday present for Jennifer. However, Marley is not a model canine. He fails obedience school, does not know the meaning of ‘No’ or ‘Stop,’ and chews pretty much anything he can reach. Yet John and Jennifer love him all the same. When the Grogans have children and life becomes more complicated, Marley remains a constant.
The screenplay, by Scott Frank and Don Roos, keeps the cuteness factor to a minimum as they maintain the adult perspective Grogan used in his book. After all, “Marley & Me” is as much about making a marriage work, struggling through the difficulties of having multiple careers and multiple children and a mid-life crisis, as it is a 100-pound Labrador retriever. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston are a credit to the seriousness of the script. And although “Marley & Me” has its humorous moments, this is not a lightweight comedy. Also effective are Alan Arkin as John’s boss at a South Florida newspaper and Eric Dane as John’s marriage-phobic friend. Kathleen Turner has a cameo as a dog trainer who bans Marley from her class. “Marley & Me” is a crowd-pleasing movie, enjoyable and satisfying, reminding us how important the little things in life can be. But bring a lot of tissue. 1/3/09
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