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Created Jan 05, 2009 08:41PM PST • Edited Jan 05, 2009 10:22PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Gentle, affecting and amusing. More than a trifle though, given that the movie covers the full measure of Marley’s life, and the impact that he has on the five humans in his family.

   Great grown up date movie, especially for dog lovers and/or parents.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston are fine as Marley’s owners, though there doesn’t seem to be any real chemistry between them. Still you’ve got to give them credit: Actors are advised to avoid sharing the screen with puppies or children. Wilson and Aniston do both and live to tell about it.

   That said, there’s something not quite right about each of these stars. He’s tough to take seriously, and her off-screen travails intrude into her onscreen persona, especially in a movie about marriage and parenthood.

   The supporting cast is terrific. Eric Dane nails the Peter Pan journalist role, while the second coming of Alan Arkin that began with Little Miss Sunshine continues here. Finally, kudos to former femme fatale Kathleen Turner for ably playing the dog-tough obedience trainer.

   Then there’s Marley, and who couldn’t love him?

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.1

17. Sex Innocent 1.4

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Polite 1.0

21. Reality

    Glib 1.1

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.3

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0