Marley & MeMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Marley & Me."

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 53 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
13 OK for kids 13+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 91
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Wilson has a scene near the end with Marley that's the most wrenchingly tender acting of his career. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    When Marley is not on the screen, Wilson and Aniston demonstrate why they are gifted comic actors. They have a relationship that's not too sitcomish, not too sentimental, mostly smart and realistic. Read full review

  • 60
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    A warm and fuzzy family movie, but you do wish that at least once someone would upstage the dog. Read full review

  • 60
    Variety | Todd McCarthy

    This perky, episodic film is as broad and obvious as it could be, but delivers on its own terms thanks to sparky chemistry between its sunny blond stars, Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, and the unabashed emotion-milking of the final reel. Read full review

  • 60
    Los Angeles Times |

    An imperfect, messy and sometimes trying film that has moments of genuine sweetness and humor sprinkled in between the saccharine and the sadness. Read full review

  • 50
    Washington Post | Philip Kennicott

    There are three fine performances lost in this otherwise middling film. Alan Arkin makes a wonderfully gruff newspaper editor who does just about as much barking as Marley. Jennifer Aniston makes the most of the rather slender figure of Jennifer Grogan, creating a believably human picture of a career woman who gives it up for the kids. And then there's the dog that plays Marley. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Walter Addiego

    This love letter to man's best friend will make dog fanciers roll over and do tricks. It's so warmhearted, you'll want to run out and hug the nearest big, sloppy mutt. And while you're watching it, have your handkerchief ready. Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Marley & Me might be easy to watch, but -- even for die-hard canine lovers -- it's as easy to forget. Read full review

  • 40
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    Bland, obsequious adaptation of John Grogan's best-selling memoir. Read full review

  • 38
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Watching the stars try to out-cutesy the mutt is one for the puke bucket. Read full review

View more reviews for Marley & Me on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+ Touching comedy deals with emotional themes.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that although the lighter side of this family-targeted dramedy has been played up in the marketing campaign, it does tackle themes like loss and mourning. While Marley's rambunctious antics will certainly amuse kids, there's some emotionally challenging material here. On the up side, there's not a lot of other problematic content; language is mild ("ass" and "damn") and sexuality is more implied than shown, though the characters do discuss topics like getting pregnant, and there's one nude swimming scene (but nothing much is on display).
  • Families can talk about how challenging behavior can be frustrating but can also help families bond. When Marley destroys a couch or eats a beloved piece of jewelry, his owners fret over their material loss. But in the end, he's brought them together in a way that his absence wouldn't have allowed. 
  • Are there members of your family whose behavior pushes limits? How much is too much?
The good stuff
  • message true1 Positive messages: Shows the challenges of caring for and training a high-maintenance pet and how it can bring out the worst in some people, but also how difficult situations can bring families together.
  • rolemodels true0 Positive role models: Sebastian is a womanizer, and he uses props to entice women whenever he can -- including using Marley as babe bait and even pushing a stroller over to a comely woman for attention. Marley can bring out less-than-honorable behavior in people. His misbehavior prompts John to call him "the worst dog in the world" and causes Jenny to demand that he be taken from the house and put in a shelter.
What to watch for
  • violence false1 Violence: Marley's out-of-control behavior isn't violent, per se, but he wreaks havoc wherever he goes. A neighbor has been attacked in one scene -- viewers don't see the violence, but she suffers a knife wound, implying the violence that befell her.
  • sex false3 Sex: Though no sexual activity is explicitly shown, it's implied, especially in a creaky bed at an Irish inn. Content relating to reproduction (getting pregnant, miscarriage, birth control) might be too mature for younger viewers. Some shots of women in bikinis on the beach; a supporting character has lots of lecherous maneuverings. Jenny swims seductively in the nude, enticing John to collect his "birthday present." Marley humps the dog trainer's leg.
  • language false2 Language: Predictable for a dog-centric movie: "crap" and "poop." Other language includes "ass," "damn," and "goddamn."
  • consumerism false2 Consumerism: Jenny and John pursue the American dream: a nice house in a good neighborhood, a nice car, a big trip, etc. But the pursuit is also a struggle, and viewers see how John and Jenny sacrifice to gain the material pleasure that they eventually achieve. Specific products/brands shown/mentioned include Volvo, the Philadelphia Enquirer and the New York Times.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: John mentions having taken bong hits in his youth. John and Sebastian usually bond over a beer. Parties involve drinking wine or champagne.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

4.5

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...bring some tissue. Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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