HEEL THE LOVE.
Newlyweds John and Jennifer Grogan (Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston) are not yet ready to have a child, but they do get a puppy; the unruly Labrador Retriever becomes a part of their lives through thick and thin. You need a heart of stone to sit through this film and not choke up near the end when the inevitable comes. This adaptation of the popular book about “the world’s worst dog” and his family is too long and has few remarkable moments… but it moves along pleasantly, has the benefit of the two stars’ charm and admirably tells its story with a sweet sense of humor that doesn’t turn into phony mush.
2008-U.S. 116 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by David Frankel. Novel: John Grogan. Cast: Owen Wilson (John Grogan), Jennifer Aniston (Jennifer Grogan), Eric Dane (Sebastian), Kathleen Turner, Alan Arkin, Nathan Gamble.
Trivia: Wilson’s real-life parents play John’s mom and dad. Followed by a direct-to-DVD sequel, Marley & Me: The Puppy Years (2011).
