This suprisingly touching movie might not be what you think from the previews – it is not a feel good cheery Christmas flick - this is a movie that relentlessly goes after your emotions to get you to cry, anyone who’s had a pet will be touched and moved, no matter how much you fight it, you’ll get teary eyed.
 “Marley & Me”

(2008) (rated: PG for thematic material, some suggestive content and language) (2 hrs)

Starring: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, Alan Arkin, Nathan Gamble

Director: David Frankel

Genre: Romance/Drama/Comedy

The Plot: A family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog.

MY TAKE (minor spoilers): This movie centers around a couple through the years as Marley grows up and the couple John (Wilson) and Jen (Aniston) has three kids that become very close with Marley.

But Marley isn’t a great dog… several times in the movie he’s referred to as “the world’s worst dog”.

In the beginning, the story is set in “southern Michigan” as John and Jen get married on a snowy day, John was working at the Kalamazoo Gazette after going to college at Western Michigan University.

The couple moves to Florida where both get new jobs at different papers, Jen the more successful of the two as John ends up writing police blotter before switching to a columnist.

The story of Marley ruining everything becomes the central theme of his columns.  The title of “world’s worst dog” is helped by a scene where Marley tackles a rough looking Kathleen Turner as the obedience school instructor.   Marley also fits the bill when a housesitter says ”Marley is not a dog, he’s evil with a dog face that’s humping my leg and peeing on your carpet”.

Marley & Me is all about a couple getting through the struggles of life as John and Jen have three kids and move two more times to Boca and then to Philadelphia, all with Marley in tow, but as the family gets bigger Marley’s role gets smaller and the focus of John and Jen turn to their kids and John’s job.

The movie is charming and emotional – intricately weaving a web for the audience to fall in love with Marley the dog despite his issues, so you end up loving him especially as he gets older and is less of a troublemaker.

Aniston and Wilson have good chemistry as the couple, and while Wilson sort of plays this role like all his other comical/ slightly awkward roles, Aniston seems to pull a little more serious acting into this role, much like her turn in The Good Girl (2002).

Alan Arkin plays the editor of John’s newspaper in Florida, he’s a solid addition to the cast and puts in a good turn in the mentor role.

One of the movie’s flaws other than Owen’s traditional acting style is that we see about a 12 year span in this movie… Marley gets older with different dogs playing the title role, the kids get older with different child actors, but John and Jen don’t (they even celebrate his 40th birthday)… and there’s not even an obvious attempt to make them look older.

Also, Marley & Me overtly attacks your emotions and doesn’t let up, taking a turn from the charming and adorable to the surprisingly emotional.

THE BOTTOM LINE:  If you’ve ever had a pet… you’re done… you’ll shed a tear during Marley & Me… I give it 7.5 out of 10… as it embraces and celebrates the unconditional love only a pet can give.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

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“…” poster courtesy

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Independent Film will also be a learning experience for Kalamazoo College and WMU students

We’re learning this week that principle photography for “Cherry”, a feature-length movie will be filmed on the campuses of Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, with other scenes filmed at various locations around Kalamazoo.

Filming is set to begin later this month and go for about 24 days.

MICHIGAN TAX INCENTIVES ATTRACTED THE PROJECT

According to a press release, the movie’s writer and director Jeffrey Fine says “We were attracted to Michigan because of the new tax incentives offered to filmmakers.   Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University provide the perfect combination of picture postcard looks and high-tech facilities that our script requires. Plus, educators and local officials have been very supportive of our production goals.”

WEST MICHIGAN COLLEGE STUDENTS WILL BE INVOLVED IN PRODUCTION

The release says Students from Kalamazoo College and WMU will fill roles in front of and behind the camera during the filming of “Cherry”.

Fine says “We intend to make this a learning experience for students by letting them help with camera, lighting, wardrobe, producing, and other tasks.”   “Some students will serve as on-camera extras, and a couple will have small speaking roles.”

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE MOVIE, THE CAST, AND THE FILMMAKERS

“Cherry” is about a college student – again, from the press release: “a comedic but bittersweet story of Aaron, a bright but sheltered freshman who arrives at an Ivy League college to enroll in an elite engineering program picked out for him by his parents. He sneaks into an art class where he befriends an older student named Linda, who, along with her daughter, helps change his outlook on academics and life.”

The lead role will be played by actor Kyle Gallner who has appeared in numerous television shows, including CSI: NY, Law & Order: SVU, and Veronica Mars, and films, including the recently released “Red” and soon-to-be released “Haunting in Connecticut”.

Fine is joined on the production team by his brother Matthew Fine, by longtime film producer Sam Kitt, who has worked extensively with director Spike Lee, and by television producer Paul Kurta, whose credits include The Riches and Veronica Mars.