Marley & Me (2008)--3/5

"Marley & Me" is a movie about itself. John Grogan (Owen Wilson) moves to Florida with his wife Jen (Jennifer Aniston). He gets a job at the paper. He gets a dog. And he starts writing about the dog. Eventually, he can't think of anything to write about except Marley, affectionately called "the world's worst dog." Grogan's column leads to promotion, success, and a movie starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston.

Thankfully, the journey is unembellished. In high-concept Hollywood, "Marley & Me" had the potential to be "Beethoven's Eighth" (or whatever number that series is at). Indeed, "Marley & Me" does have scenes of wanton dog destruction. But Marley is as important to John and Jen as any other member of the family. As time passes, he's a constant. His disobedience is presented in relation to the normal family events that go on around him.

"Marley & Me" does step into two-dimensionality with John's only friend Sebastian (Eric Dane). He seems to be friends with John only so he can use his dog--and later his babies--to pick up bikini-clad Floridian babes. It's not funny ever.

Alan Arkin, on the other hand, makes the most of his brief screen time with some choice dry one-liners and asides. While reading John's columns, he deadpans, "I'm laughing my ass off."