From All Movie Guide: As a modest little dramedy about the everyday adventures of starting a family, Marley & Me is pretty solid, but as a movie about the joy and heartbreak of owning a dog, it goes straight for the jugular. Based on the autobiographical book by columnist John Grogan, the story effectively begins with newlyweds John and Jennifer (played Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) adopting the titular blonde lab puppy as a sort of precursor to having kids. Marley soon grows into a wacky, 95 lb. canine wrecking ball, and serves as the constant in their lives as they navigate the waters of buying houses, having babies, choosing career paths, and (of course) accidentally discovering the meaning of life. (Hint: It was there all along!)

Movies that make a big deal out of celebrating the mundane, and try to make every husband, wife, and parent feel like the heroes of their own epic little saga are a dime a dozen these days, but Marley & Me avoids a fate of sappy, generic mediocrity with three little wo...

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