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| Movie Review: Marley & Me Alternate Title: Let this Sleeping Dog (Movie) Lie
Story: This is one of those
annoying movies that has been marketed one way but when you go to see
the film, it is something else instead. And it pissed me off. I say
'bait and switch' is what those guys at 20th Century Fox did. I thought
I was going to see an adaptation of the book Marley & Me: Life
and Love with the World's Worst Dog, by John Grogan,
but instead got a typical Lifetime movie about two overly attractive
people with nothing to complain about - and yet they do (for over two
hours). It was directed by David Frankel (The Devil
Wears Prada) and written by Scott Frank and Don
Roos.
Doggone it, what remains of the book, which is
really about Marley the dog, are snippets of Marley (using 22 dogs)
growing from puppy hood to old age chewing his way through everything
in sight. Marley, while loved, is nothing more than another piece of
furniture in this self-indulgent couple's lives. Forget about the obvious
plot holes like the Grogans never age, never gain weight, are always
tan (even when they lived in Michigan) just occasionally get annoyed
at one another and then make up and produce another child.
So what was good about the film? I love dogs
and can watch them all of the time. So dog lovers will have something
to smile about every now and then. Pretty people are nice to watch,
but after awhile, I prefer to look at the dogs. Does it have appeal
and will it make money? Absolutely it will. I just do not like being
snookered.
Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9qLrcUdftA
Here's the real John Grogan talking about Marley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_fZSjOTwOI Acting: Owen Wilson as John Grogan looked like he
was medicated for most of the film. His inflection does not waver. But
he has great hair. Jennifer Aniston as Jenny Grogan,
always looks good and she has great hair too. Eric Dane as
non believable friend Sebastian Tunney also had nice hair.Alan
Arkin as editor Arnie Klein does not need nice hair because
he can act and Kathleen Turner the cameo dog trainer
just looked frightening.
Trivia: John Grogan has been a reporter, bureau chief,
and columnist for newspapers in Michigan and Florida before becoming
the editor in chief of Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine. He was a
columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer. He lives with his wife Jenny
and their three children in rural eastern Pennsylvania. Grogan's dog
Marley appeared in the movie The Last Home Run when he was on film for
less than 2 minutes when a van pulls up to a curb and a girl steps out
and a boy steps out with Marley. Dog trainer, Larry Madrid,
said it took 22 Labs of various sizes and temperaments to film
Marley & Me, which was shot in Miami and South Florida last winter.
Madrid, who handled hawks for 3:10 to Yuma, crows for Charlotte's Web
and everything but roaches in Enchanted, said he had it pretty easy
for this shoot.
Predilection: I was not going to see this film, but
was persuaded to see it by a friend (we are still friends).
Critters: Oodles of poodles, loads of dogs, dogs,
and more dogs.
Sex Spectrum: Lots of sex, but no spark.
Blatant Product Placement: Dos Equus
Visual Art: Pretty people living in pretty houses
with pretty things.
Theater Audience: The friend who cajoled me into
seeing this film was visiting from California. She was pissed when the
theater where Marley was playing had a screen that she said was smaller
than her TV in her living room. She never got over that annoyance and
was angry and hated the film for many reasons through to the end. The
theater was packed, and filled with every kind of person from big burly
guys, couples, groups of friends but no kids. This was a 4PM showing
on a Friday afternoon. This is not a movie for kids, by the way.
Weather: The weather in Florida was perfectly sunny
unless there were thunderstorms to scare Marley.
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I looked at my watch a lot.
Predictability Level: I reads the book - no surprises.
Tissue Usage: We sobbed at the Marley death scene.
It went on way too long and seemed to have not been edited so that Owen
Wilson could have a big dramatic scene. Dog poop, I say.
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Neither. Why not read the book?
Length: This film was over two hours. In dog years
that is way too long.
LOBO HOWLS: 5
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