Marley and Me

release year: 2008
genre: drama/comedy
viewing setting: hotel PPV, 3/21/09

synopsis: Despite his antics, a mischievous dog becomes a core part of a family's lives over the span of many years.

impressions: This one threw me off, because the preview made it look like a comedy so that's what I was expecting. Be warned: this movie might make you cry, especially if you're a dog owner. It's actually the story of a young married couple who stall the urge to have kids by getting a cute little puppy...who turns out to be disobedient, hyperactive, and destructive. The dog stays, though, and thus becomes part of their life from that point on: arguments, kids, job changes, and everything else. Only near the end (or both the movie and Marley's lifespan) do they (and the viewer) realize just how much Marley's a member of the family.

something this movie has that no other movie has: a dog that triumphs over an obedience-school teacher

acting: Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston are great as John and Jenny, the couple who go through several phases of their life together but still remain funny and real. Alan Arkin is the dry-witted newpaper boss. Eric Dane is John's best friend, whose single status is more important to him than anything else.

final word: Good drama, especially for dog lovers.

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