Review: “Marley & Me”
Throughout my life, I have been both a reader and a movie nut. Rarely do I ever find a movie that I liked as well as the book upon which it was based. This past weekend, however, it happened … for the second time in my life, I liked the movie as much as the book when I watched Marley and Me.
The movie and book are both set around the life of writer John Grogan and his wife, family, and beloved if not four legged terrorist of a dog named Marley. From the day they bring Marley home to be a part of their family, he is a destructive but lovable little monster. Unlike most dogs, he doesn’t outgrow it as the puppy phase passes. With Marley, “puppy” doesn’t pass until the golden years when his body just won’t let him be a pup any longer. Until then, his life is one of destroyed furniture, shredded drywall, violating legs of friends, family, and furniture, being booted from obedience school, bailing out of a car window on the freeway (en route to neutering … no stupid dog, that Marley), and adventure beyond adventure.
What prompted me to read and love the book is the same thing that has prompted me to read and love the movie – I have a Marley. His name is Ande, and while he is smaller, he has led me through my share of neuroses (his, not mine), adventures, high speed 3 hour chases, destruction, and mayhem in the 2 years I have had him (I got him when he was two, this is no puppy now). I could relate to John Grogan’s life with Marley, laugh in empathy at his stories, and understand his love for a furry mongrel in spite of his antics. And just like the book, as the story of Marley’s life came to a close, I was reminded that, despite their antics, our animals bring a level of unconditional love and acceptance to our lives that no human can replicate. When the rest of the world wants to kick us, these little creatures want to love us … no matter what.
If you have, do, or will ever own a dog, I highly recommend both the book and the movie. It’s more than just a story about a dog … it’s an easily relatable insight into the same lives we all lead every day … frustrations with work, challenges with family, stressors of parenting, fears, sacrifices, and underlying it all, the unconditional adoration of a beloved pet, there for us when the world wants to trash us once again.
I must end my blog here … one of those precious creatures just put her chin in my lap now, furry face, brown eyes looking up at me, wanting nothing more than to have her ears scratched, for which I will be rewarded with loving kisses and lifelong loyalty.
– Becky W.
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Do you have an opinion on the book or the movie? If so, leave a comment below.
