Marley & Me-The Review

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

As noted yesterday, Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I did see the new movie, Marley & Me based on the best-selling book by John Grogan.
And, this dog-lover enjoyed it more than I thought that I would and yet, because I read the book and know what happens, I left the movie with many a tear streaming down my face. And, I was not alone.
What I found amazing and the best about this movie is that it was very close to the book itself. Most movies for some strange reason like to take a whole book and change the meaning. Just ask Tom Clancy. But, I can remember all the movie covered and it was very close to what Mr. Grogan wrote.
Owen Wilson plays Mr. Grogan and Jennifer Aniston his wife also named Jennifer. I thought that they both did an excellent job conveying the story of their beginning as a married couple and how Marley, the world's worst dog, came into their lives.
Marley was a birthday present from John to Jennifer. They went to the breeder, looked at a lot of Golden Labs and fell in love with the "special".
Your humble blogger did a similar thing for then soon to be Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and her son, who never had a dog because his father claimed to be allergic.
We went to the Pasadena Humane Society, looked around and fell in love with Scout, the Wonder Dog. Poor Scout! She was being abused (not really!) by a pit bull mix that reminded me of Petey from the Little Rascals. She has been with us for 11 1/2 years now.
If anyone has had an unruly, yet so lovable dog, you can relate to the story. Such as the fact that Marley was kicked out of obedience school. Or how Marley was a chewer of any and everything. Well, you get the idea.
What was so moving is how once the Grogans began their family, Marley was just as much a part of that as anyone. Even when Jennifer has a lousy day and snaps and wants to get rid of Marley who was having one of his fun days. Needless to say, they did not get rid of Marley.
I will not relay the ending except to say that it brought other grown men to tears as well. There is just something about the bond of a dog and person that is inexplicable. The fact that the dog is always there for you no matter what. How when we make a bad move, like step on a paw by accident and while the dog may yelp in pain, he or she will jump up on you to let you know they are OK and that they know you did not mean it. It is a bond that can not be broken, but is by the ultimate death of the dog. Yet, amazing memories live on, and that is what this movie is all about.
Word of advice.
Do not take a really young child to see this for the obvious reason of the ending. Also, read the book before seeing the movie. It is a real perspective as to why I believe this movie really captured the book as best as cramming a lot of years in a two hour movie can.
On the rightviewfromtheleftcoast scale, four plus stars. A great, powerful and moving tale.