Marley & Me

2008 US David Frankel
✰ 1/2

There's only one proper way to do a "dog film" without turning your work into mush, and that's by refraining from killing the cute, cuddly guy at the end. Marley & Me not only fails at this—but does so spectacularly, milking the death with cross-cuts (little kid watching doggy home videos / the dog being killed by injection) followed by a lengthy canine funeral. Neither Owen Wilson nor Jennifer Aniston are particularly good actors, which doesn't help, though at least Wilson keeps most of the goings-on goofy. Alan Arkin is a supporting pleasure. The story is predictable, formulaic; I didn't mind. The dog's antics are fun for people who like dogs. A sub-plot involving TV actor Eric Dane goes nowhere throughout the movie. I guess I should also say that this manipulative piece of trash made my eyes water. Damn you, David Frankel. Damn you!