(there’s a minor spoiler, so I’ve put part of the review behind the “read more” link. If you don’t want any info about how this ends, don’t read this… though, it is only a minor spoiler)

Heidi and I also saw Marley and Me over Christmas weekend. The movie is an adaptation of the book Marley and Me by newspaper columnist and reporter John Grogan. The story focuses on Marley, his dog, and how he becomes part of the family even though he’s, well, more than a handful. The movie feels like a tribute to the real Marley.

There’s not much that’s surprising here. It’s a movie about a unruly but lovable dog that’s as much about his family as it is about the dog. We see two lives summarized together, Marley and Grogan, as Grogan and his wife build a family with Marley. We see the highlights of their life together, as babies are born, as they change jobs, as the kids get older. So, as we go and see how crazy Marley is, howling at thunderstorms, eating everything that isn’t out of reach, including furniture, we’re also learning about Grogan’s life while Marley is in it. It works very well and makes for an enjoyable movie.

My only complaint, really, is that they drag out Marley’s death in an excruciatingly long, very, very sad sequence that runs maybe 10-15 minutes. It feels like FOREVER, to the point where I was almost rooting for Marley to just die already. Seriously, though, I did tear up a bit at the end because it is just that sad. I think I understand why the director did it, especially since this movie is a real, personal story about a real dog, but it was just too, too much. It was crushingly sad even though they tried to end on a nice montage of Marley’s life. So, be prepared for a very sad ending.

Aside from that, it’s an entertaining flick. It’ll make for an enjoyable movie night if you’re ready for the ending.