ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

ANYONE who has ever owned a dog or sighed over a cute puppy will fall for Marley & Me. The screen version of the John Grogan bestseller is slickly made and very American, but whilst critics will find it easy to dismiss, family audiences are guaranteed to love it. This is one of the few films that all ages will be able to sit down and enjoy together.

Journalist John Grogan (Owen Wilson) and his wife Jenny (Jennifer Aniston) were a golden couple with a masterplan for how their life together should be. They would move to sunny Florida, create the perfect home, raise a family and pursue fabulous careers as journalists.

Then they bought a golden labrador puppy that they named in honour of Bob Marley and everything changed.

Marley was a dog with a mind of his own. He chewed everything that moved, destroyed furniture and even tried to escape from a moving car. Dog trainer Ms. Kornblut (Kathleen Turner) even bans Marley from her obedience classes because he is so wild and wilful. Marley made the Gorgans’ life a nightmare, but he also made it complete.

Marley & Me is a sentimental tale of family life and all the little joys and sorrows that happen along the way. It isn’t exactly profound, but the characters are all very likeable and there are some picture postcard locations in sun-kissed Florida and a wintry Philadelphia.

Owen Wilson’s easygoing charm is well suited to the character of John Grogan, and he has a good rapport with the 22 dogs who were used to create the one character of Marley.This is not going to win any Oscars but it does provide undemanding entertainment. Don’t forget to take a handkerchief with you.

Nationwide release

Director: David Frankel
Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Alan Arkin, Kathleen Turner
Screenwriters: Scott Frank, Dan Roos based on the book by John Grogan
Certificate: PG
Running time: 116 mins
Country: UK
Year: 2008