Marley and Me.

IMPORT-

I grew up with two golden retrievers named Odie, and Bart. And when I say 'grew up', I mean grew up. We got Odie when I was about 7, and Bart was his son who was with us until I was 26. They were my brothers. So with that close personal history I knew I wouldn't be able to see this movie at the theatres without coming out of it looking like I was attacked by a bushel of onions. I think we all knew before seeing the movie how it ends.

All that being said I just watched MARLEY and ME on dvd. I had a gist of the story, but did not read the book. Amazingly this movie had little to do with Marley, and mostly the Me, until the later third of the movie. And obviously that part being the most effective. And really the only way this movie is effective, which is emotional placing yourself there. Easiest if you are a dog lover.  Most of the movie is the couple having bland, normal couple experiences of jobs, bosses, and moves. After a while the cuteness of the dog getting in trouble was just shame in how awful the owners are at training this dog in any matter what so ever. The first real thing that happened was the post doctors visit to the baby doctor. It goes on and on with Anniston's and Wilson's limited chemistry, and I really don't know why they went with Wilson on this. Has he ever owned a dog, can he deliver different emotions as an actor if he's reading the phonebook, burning in a fire, or putting his dog down? The aging of the dog was the hardest part, because I saw that with my dogs. I was there with the movie, I was thinking of being there when we put our dog Odie down and how a rush of feelings, emotions, and memories that was. I was almost insulted at the acting Owen Wilson emoted in that scene where he speaks to his 'brother' and 'companion.' I guess it's not his fault. I guess he should stick to comedy. I guess it's up to someone else to write a movie about what's it like to share parts of your life with a dog.

If you like the typical Hollywood mainstream movies check it out on dvd, otherwise skip it.

EXPORT-

JULY 23rd 

Chicago Pilot Competition

Come see RUBYS' RULES and the other nominees!