American journalist John Grogan was a columnist on The Philadelphia Inquirer who wrote many articles about his life with his dog, Marley.
He turned them into a best-selling book which has now become a record-breaking film, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston.
John (Wilson) and his new wife Jenny (Aniston) move to the sunshine of Florida where they get jobs on rival newspapers.
He’s career-driven and jealous of the freedom of his single friend Sebastian (Eric Dane), a hard news hack who flies off to South America to research drug cartels.
John’s sardonic editor Alan Arkin is keener for him to stay home and write a column. And soon he finds rich material in the shape of an adorable yellow labrador puppy, which he buys for Jenny.
Yet Marley is as much trouble as a baby. He wrecks the house, chews the sofa, steals food, refuses to sleep on his own and attacks other dogs and people.
He’s out of control – possibly the world’s worst dog – and even stern trainer Kathleen Turner can’t tame him.
Marley stays with them as they start a family and move house, eventually settling in Philadelphia.
Despite the cute canine and plenty of ‘aww’ moments, this is not particularly a film for children. It deals with serious, adult issues of marriage, compromise and parenthood – as director David Frankel, who last brought us The Devil Wears Prada, says: “It’s about the rollercoaster of life,” and as such may touch a chord with many.
Wilson and Aniston have screen chemistry and it’s a perfectly watchable film. It’s just not as funny or genuinely moving as it could be.
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