Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Updates:

Marley & Me (2008)

Director: David Frankel

Time Out rating

Average user rating

108 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

With its child-friendly rating and top billing for an unruly golden Labrador, ‘Marley & Me’ leads one to expect a straightforward saga of man’s best friend. But this film is a more complicated animal. Although it hardly stints on Marley’s mischief-making appetite for frolicking naughtiness and chomping on just about anything he can get between his incisors, it’s mostly a bittersweet portrait of a couple settling down to family life and feeling like they’ve sold out on their youthful ambitions.

Owen Wilson (carrying his own baggage of off-screen melancholia) plays the real-life Miami journo whose series of popular columns on life with a four-legged miscreant got the ball rolling. Meanwhile, Jennifer Aniston is a sympathetic match as the reporter girlfriend-turned-spouse who leaves work to raise their kids after juggling both proves a nightmare.

With its peachy star casting and impeccably art-directed lifestyles, the latest from ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ director David Frankel is too glossy to cut very deep, but there’s a core of truth as we see a family coming to shape itself around the loveable pooch they initially bought as a child substitute, all the while squaring up career sacrifices against the restorative recompense of domesticity.

Marley himself (played by 22 different dogs, don’t you know!) frequently takes a back seat when work and childcare issues dominate the proceedings, but he looms large in a final reel that draws tears, and feels like it’s earned them. Evidently contrived and something of an ungainly hybrid, the film shares its canine protagonist’s facility for wearing down your resistance.

Author: Trevor Johnston 2009-03-10 10:30:28

Time Out London issue 2012, Mar 12-18 2009

Bookmark

User reviews of this film

GET LOST said...

Posted on Apr 04 2009 19:54 STUPID PEOPLE !!!! EVERY ONE IS SICK IF THEY SAY IT IS GOOD

Report as inappropriate
ROLLY POLLY said...

Posted on Apr 04 2009 19:53 I THINK THAT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SAYS IT IS RUBBISH I THINK THEIR RUBBISH BECAUSE THE FILM IS RUBBISH

Report as inappropriate
CHEEKY SAM said...

Posted on Apr 04 2009 19:51 WOW. SO GOOD

Report as inappropriate
Rebecca said...

Posted on Apr 03 2009 20:30 OMG after reading these comments ive kinda went off seeing it!!still excited 2 c it tho!! cant wait 2 c how sad it is!! it is ok 4 kids is it?? cuz the things ive bn hearing is putting me off nd im a kid!!

Report as inappropriate
Rebecca said...

Posted on Apr 03 2009 20:16 I havent cn the film but goin in 2morro 2 c it, cant wait!! every1 at ma skl is sayin its REALLY sad nd i no i'll b crying cuz i ALWAYS cry at films with animals dying in it!!
xx=)

Report as inappropriate
jena said...

Posted on Apr 02 2009 16:10 susie it wasnt that bad lol

Report as inappropriate
Rosielou85 said...

Posted on Apr 02 2009 09:38 This film is more than just about a dog, its about family and the changes that take place throughout adulthood. Its heartwarming and emotional, especially towards the end, but id advise potential viewers to see it without a doubt!

Report as inappropriate
MAMA said...

Posted on Apr 01 2009 17:22 vERY GOOD FILM VERY FUNNY AND HEARTWARMING WELL ACTED UNTIL THE TERRIBLY DRAWN OUT ENDING......DID THEY HAVE TO GO INTO SUCH GRAPHIC DETAIL, (IT BROUGHT BACK PAINFUL MEMORIES OF TAKING MY OWN DOG TO THE VET FOR ITS LAST VISIT!!! ) OUR 12 AND 9 YEAR OLDS THOUGHT IT TOO SAD AND RUSHED HOME TO WARN THEIR LITTLE COUSINS NOT TO GO SEE IT.

Report as inappropriate
sammy said...

Posted on Mar 30 2009 12:26 This film sounds really good (Y) Going to see it tonight with everywun ;) I gota see it :D:P xx

Report as inappropriate
Megan Campbell said...

Posted on Mar 28 2009 22:56 I have heard that the film is really good so i am going to see it on my birthday and all my friends have said it was really good and they said it was unmissable so i have no chose xxxx hehehehe xxxx

Report as inappropriate
Emma said...

Posted on Mar 28 2009 19:52 This movie was really good. Went to see it with a 11 year old and me and her were crying. It was such a family movie for all ages.

Report as inappropriate
jeje said...

Posted on Mar 28 2009 11:40 i loved this movie it was REALLY GOOD. Its soo amazing that those thing actully happened. I am definitely buying when comes out on dvd. Funny and sad. go see it with a bunch of friends. really worth seeing

Report as inappropriate
Lottie said...

Posted on Mar 28 2009 11:02 OMG this is a review bit telling you if u shud se it and is it good! Everyones said what happens, just ruin it for me!!!

Report as inappropriate
Susie said...

Posted on Mar 27 2009 19:42 Jena, I took my child because the film is rated PG therefore it is supposed to be suitable for children 8+, my daughter is almost 8 and it definately wasnt suited to her age. How does one know what a film will be like unless they go and see it? PG means Parental Guidance, so kids can go.

Report as inappropriate
jena said...

Posted on Mar 27 2009 19:22 y r people saying not suiablte for children...dont take ur children then? simple lol great film..true to life...go see it :)

Report as inappropriate