I had actually expected Marley and Me to be more of a rough and tumble type flick similar to the film Beethoven or Heathcliff. Instead the film turned out to be quite a touching feature with a nice mix of drama and comedy centered around the adoption of a troublesome but very loving Labrador Retriever.

The story starts out with a young couple starting off their lives as a married couple. Soon after their wedding, Jennifer Grogan (Jennifer Aniston) begins to bring up the possibility of having and rearing “children”. With John Grogan (Owen Wilson) just beginning his career as a journalist in downtown Miami Florida, he decides with the advice of a friend to fill that “void” with a dog who they later name Marley. Marley becomes the center of their lives outside of the careers and although they do eventually have children, Jenn and John never lose their unconditional love and affection for their “first child”.

Both Aniston and Wilson perform well as members of the Grogan Family. Wilson is much more toned down in this feature, but manages to pull off his role as Aniston’s husband quite convincingly. Aniston has always done well as a motherly figure, and puts on a good performance as Wilson’s beautiful and charming wife.

This film is definitely a family feature in every sense of the word. Its about the trials and tribulations of a family, about being a proper husband, wife, and raising children. Its about coping with the loss of a loved one and discovering the real meaning behind unconditional love. Its about the sacrifices we make each and every day in order to make others around you happy. Its about commitment and doing the right thing.

Marley and Me is a great film for the entire family. Although in my opinion it was a tad bit too long with a few scenes that felt unnecessary (neighbor being stabbed?), I thoroughly enjoyed it. If your an animal lover or in need of a good film to spend the afternoon at home with your family, Marley and Me definitely fits the bill.