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Film Title: Marley & Me

 Best for ages: 7 and up.

Movie Website: Click Here

Year Released: 2008

Rated: PG (US)

SYNOPSIS

Click Here After their wedding, newspaper writers John ( Owen Wilson) and Jennifer Grogan (Jennifer Aniston) move to Florida.  John does not want a child right away so he buys a dog as an early birthday present for Jennifer. He buys her a yellow Labrador retriever, and while listening to Bob Marley in the car on the way home; John decides to name the dog after the famous reggae singer.  Thinking that taking care of a dog will be easy, they soon learn that their dog is very hyperactive and is a lot like taking care of a child.  As the movie moves along Marley ages along with John and Jennifer and even gives John inspiration to write a column for the newspaper he works for.  As John and Jennifer goes older, they have children of their own, and yet Marley still has the same personality as he grows along with them.

VIOLENCE/GRAPHIC CONTENT/language

   There really is not much violence or graphic content in the film, but one there is a focus on death in the film that might make many young kids sad and upset. Figured I'd let you parents know that one right off the bat. There is some adult situations such as talk about having a child, and both John and Jennifer in one scene kiss each other on a bed with their clothes on and are going to try to "make a baby". There is a scene in which a bed squeaks off camera. This of course is done in a very tasteful manner to go along with it's PG rating. There is a tough scene where Jen finds out she's not pregnant or that she lost the baby because there is no heartbeat. they don't go into detail about it but it's a sad moment, but Jen and John move on and try again. 

   Marley is a bad dog in the film, but it's comical the crazy things the dog does, such as destroy the garage, chase after other dogs, runs off with a table, steals food and such off the table, jump on people and so on. He's really just a dog with a lot of energy, and the things he does don't hurt anyone. Maybe except the mailman and the UPS guy who he chases after. Marley gets into everything, but its really funny and harmless. That is until the kids are born and Marley becomes a risk because he still goes crazy when the garbage men come around and such. It causes fights between John and Jen to the point where Jen wants John to get rid of Marley. But they make up, and Jen tells John that she is sorry and that Marley is a member of the family.

   There is a scene where the dog sitter is taking a shower and Marley is seen drinking out of the toilet then jumps into the shower with her knocking down the shower curtain. We don't see any nudity, but we do see the shape of the sitter body though the blurry curtain. there is also a scene in which John and Jen skinny dip in there pool after Johns 40th Birthday party.

   The next store neighbors daughter is stabbed by someone, and Marley and John come to her rescue. The person who stabbed her runs off, and no blood is shown, but it's something that needs to be mentioned as it is probably the most violent thing in the film.

   Language

   Marley is neutered and John writes a column about the ordeal, in which he boos reads the articles out loud in his office in which he refers to loss of the dogs testicles. There is a lot of talk about how Marley like to hump poodles.  There is also talk about having sex and making a baby a lot, but it's part of the film and how John and Jen plan on having children. There is also some arguing and the likes that come with marriage and having children. There is also talk of divorce between John and one of his co-workers, but its not of a concern to the story as it just happens that Jen is going though post pardon depression. 

OVERALL VIEWS

  I grew up in a house full of Labs, my mother is a dog breeder and I spent my whole life around them. I've trained them, I've delivered litters of them and I've grown up helping my parent take care of more than twenty of them. There were a lot of things that made me laugh, especially when Marley first moves in. The crewing, the house destroying and especially their appetites. Labs will do anything for food. I remember a time where two of the labs I grew up with would steal a roast beef off the kitchen counter at least once a week, until my parents finally got a gate to prevent them from going in the kitchen. They are dog's with a lot of energy and love to have fun. We've replaced plenty of screen doors like in the film, even a glass door once as well. If you have a Labrador, this is a movie that is going to make you laugh. But it also has its sad elements as well. 

   The movie has a lot of great life stories and experiences while John an Jen's relationship grows in the film, so does their relationship with Marley. He seems to get better when the baby is born, and matures as a dog. But once the second child comes around and the focus is taken off Marley and is focused on the kids Marley once again rebels.  As life moves on we see the family and work life develop, though the good, the bad and the ugly. In the end however we find that sometimes we need a dog around simply because no matter how bad they can be, they are always there for us and are part of the family.

   The Marley & Me DVD has a few features which include 19 Deleted Scenes With Director, David Frankel Commentary. Finding Marley featurette. Breaking the Golden Rule featurette. On Set with Marley: Dog of All Trades featurette. Animal Adoption featurette. Purina Dog Chow Marley & Me Video Contest Finalists. Purina Dog Chow Video Hall of Fame. Plus a  Gag Reel, When Not to Pee featurette and a Digital copy of the film.

   Overall, while there are some things in the film that might be of concern and you might not want your young children to know about, everything that is of a concern in the film is done in a very tasteful matter. Marley & Me is a coming of age movie that shows the progress of a family and how a family grows. Marley is the bond that brings the family together, despite his crazy antics; the dog is the main focus of the film. And while the film does end of a sad note it's a film that is a great reflection of life and the love that an animal can bring to a family.

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