Review of Marley & Me (2008) by Leeann B — 19 Jan 2015

Review In A Nutshell:

Marley & Me is a wonderful album of life; taking us through the ups and downs of it, the failed expectations and the sudden blessings. It is a story that affects all of us, both young and old.

It begins with a couple, John and Jenny, at their prime; hopeful individuals that aim to kick-start their careers and marriage. The idea of having child begins to linger in the thoughts of Jenny; but John is slightly worried about that prospect, and instead adopts a dog to distract both of them from it. The film then progresses naturally, showing the unpredictable movement of life, hurting and surprising these characters along the way, slowly growing and shaping them in the process; becoming a different person with every passing minute. There is clearly a biographical effect in the content and the way it is told, evoking feelings that are honest and warm; or cold depending on the scene. It is something that many dramatic films fail to do; most films would show the progression of life only by the significant moments in a person's life, but this film finds the deeper emotions and ideas in the subtle and mundane of events. The film is no doubt obvious and manipulative in its emotions, but it never at a point did it ever unsatisfying; right from the start the film had me on board with its winding journey, lingering on pit stops that explore long enough for them to feel like real moments rather than fabrication of fiction.

The performances in this film were great, with Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston taking shelter in simple and respectable roles that attempt to evoke more drama than comedies. The film was an opportunity to shed light on aspects of their ability as a performer that were not so prominent before. One could easily say that it was the performances of the actors that were manipulative but if one really takes the time to notice, it is actually in the director's handling of the content; exposing the most heartbreaking and warm of their performances, but we never think less of it because of its consistency in its tone throughout.

Marley & Me may not be the most thought provoking of dramas, but on its own it succeeds as a warm and cuddly experience; it goes well with tear-jerking dramas like Terms of Endearment, that capture life in such an honest way, showing the ups and down without becoming too dark.