New Review: Marley and Me

Although at times overly sentimental, Marley and Me is a sweet story of life with a dog. Like a child, Marley is sometimes unruly and tests their marriage, and also like a child sometimes is loving and sweet knowing just the right thing to do to make your heart melt.

Starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson as the Grogan’s, the relationship between John Grogan (Wilson) and Marley is the heart of the film, more so than his relationship with his wife, friends, work, or kids.

Kathleen Turner’s role as a dog trainer is too over the top but Alan Arkin’s role as John’s editor had just the right touch.

Beginning with their marriage, Marley is a way to stop his wife’s baby clock but allows John to be ready and to desire having children. At the same time, his reporter buddy Sebastian (Eric Dane) is moving upwards in the journalism world as John is forced to make choices between his career and family.

As John discovers himself as a columnist rather than a news reporter, he mellows into a life of suburbia with kids in tow. All along there is Marley, sometimes causing them to struggle and other times loving them just enough to make things right.

David Frankel, the director, is still relatively unknown, having directed a few episodes of Sex and the City, Entourage, and Band of Brothers. However, Marley and Me is a far cry better than his last effort of The Devil Wears Prada.

A touching film, Marley and Me has been number one at the box office since it opened Christmas Day which is well deserved at this time of year.

Marley and Me may not be the best movie ever made but like any film that has a bittersweet ending, my heart was broken and I cried like a baby.