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
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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.
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Role models: Sebastian is a womanizer, and he uses props to entice women whenever hecan -- including using Marley as babe bait and even pushing a strollerover to a comely woman for attention. Marley can bring outless-than-honorable behavior in people. His misbehavior prompts John tocall him "the worst dog in the world" and causes Jenny to demand thathe be taken from the house and put in a shelter.
What to watch for
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Violence: Marley's out-of-control behavior isn't violent, per se, but he wreakshavoc wherever he goes. A neighbor has been attacked in one scene --viewers don't see the violence, but she suffers a knife wound, implyingthe violence that befell her.
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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.
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Language: Predictable for a dog-centric movie: "crap" and "poop." Other language includes "ass," "damn," and "goddamn."
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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.
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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.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
Marley & me by kgross1257
Awesome movie. Real tearjerker.
Fuuny, sad, tender.
Only problem was I took my young daughter who was bawling at the ending and I spent the rest of the night consoling her.
1
READ PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! by imndance
If you liked this movie you obviously have a lot of problems!
I never have seen a movie that was soooo depressing. I HATED this movie. This movie was definately NOT a comedy.
On Christmas day, I don't like watching a movie where a girl gets stabbed with a knife, a miscarriage, and a dog being euthanized! If you are a dog lover do NOT go to see this movie. There was way too much detail when the dog was being euthanized.
I looked around the theater and I saw every person there sobbing. Sounds like an awesome Christmas movie for the whole family....NOT!!!!!!!!!
1,000,000 thumbs down! I will not be purchasing this movie! DO NOT GO SEE!
The producers and marketers should be ashamed of themselves for posing this movie as a PG comedy...I am 13 years old and have more common sense...thats pretty bad!
We have had to put some of our dogs down b/c of old age and there is NOTHING FUNNY about it!
WORST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!
1
Marley and Me by jbells
As a parent I was anticipating a wonderful holiday outing with my family, which included my young nine year old daughter, to watch the movie Marley and Me. My expectations, since we were viewing a movie with a PG rating, were that we would have a great time together watching a movie about a mischievious dog and his family's adventures with him. We have read several Marley books and have loved them. Innocence personified right? Wrong!!!! This idiotic movie for 'kids" was filled vulgar language and more sex then I cared to explain to my young daughter.... Skinny dipping, the wife calling her husband home immediately to become impregnated, squeaky bed scenes, words such as *******, son of a *****, balls (over and over) ****and many others- gave me the shock value that I never in my life will want to experience again. I will tell every single parent of young children to not go. Sex and dogs are not two topics that I would say go together for family viewing. How idiotic can producers be?
1
Horrible ending.. not a good xmas movie by mtpgybnk
Dog lovers beware! Or if you get emotional by seeing GRAPHIC DETAILS of a dog being euthanized at a vets office, this movie is not for you.
Movie started out great, brought up & stirred many emotions.. it had happy, funny, sad, and depressing moments... life in general.
However, the writers/directors went way beyond entertaining at the end of this movie. If you must go see this, do yourself a favor and leave 10 minutes before the ending. If the dog (Marley) is being placed into the car to go to the vet's office.. this is your cue to walk out and don't look back.
I wish I had taken my daughter & mother out at that point. Would have saved needless tears and the fear of taking the animals in the car anywhere. The audience in my theatre were sniffling & wiping tears streaming down their cheecks the last 10 minutes of this movie.
Definately not a happy ending Christmas movie. It ruined our happy holiday.
4
Good movie for older kids by Philboy
Don't take little kids to this thinking it is a cute dog movie. It is about the life of a good/bad dog who loves his family. Included in life, is death. So unless you want to spend the week explaining the death of an animal, like 80% of the people in the theatre who brought 3-5 year olds..... DON"T DO IT!
Read the reviews first before you take your kids to see the movie people. It is a very good movie, but the animal dies a normal old age death, with the vet assisting.
It is worth to go see, but don't take kids under the age of 9.
1
Not appropriate for children by MissTara16
This movie is NOT appropriate for children, I believe I counted 3 different swear words, so to be rated PG is a disgrace. The movie is sad and by far is not a comedy. I wont tell anything that happens in the movie, other than if you want to see it, find a babysitter. The people that rate these movies should be ashamed for the sexual content and language. Very disappointed
4
Use your Judgement went taking the Kids to see this because the Rating was not acurately made! by Family_Dan
If you don't mind taking your child to see a film that talks about bong hits and sex in a way that you will probably have to explain their meaning, when you get home... take them to this movie! It was definetely a cute film, so as long as it doesn't bother you to sit next to your children while Jennifer Aniston is naked in a pool getting frisky with her husband and you can see her butt crack under water, then by all means bring the little ones to this film. If you are also a family that has regular conversations about sex and how babies are made; if the kids are used to seeing lots of pregnancy tests and watching people imply they are getting it on without getting naked, then this movie won't be a problem. You should be able to enjoy all of the adorable aspects of Marley and the family. The film does have great points to be made. However, the movie was clearly written for an adult viewer and although children will definately enjoy the film, you may not be ready to explain everything.
3
Not a comedy and not PG by fandiane
Let's see: foul language, sex scenes, marital strife, neighborhood burglaries, a stabbing next door, a miscarriage, euthanasia. How has this been deemed PG?? and not PG-13?? Just saw with my 11 and 8 year old kids and they agree that it should have been PG-13. We all thought it was a disappointment. Definitely not the warm, fuzzy, funny movie we thought it would be.
5
Great Movie just not for kids! by jmtofte
I loved the movie....although I do think, without a doubt, it should have been PG-13. I was sweating bullets the entire time with my 11 yr. old daughter and 7 year old son. The focus on sex and having a baby was absolutely not necessary. It was a great movie with a great story line, but if you are gonna focus so much on that then it shouldn't have been PG. I personally wouldn't take small children to see it. Had i seen it before I wouldn't have taken my kids.
5
Surprised by duckpinbowler
I myself am 21 year old white male and my family was going to see this movie around Christmas and there was a mix up with the tickets and I almost didn't even go and I wasn't real worried about it because I didn't REALLY want to see the movie ESPECIALLY with 4 younger kids who might be a pain in the gluttomus during the movie. Welp, I ended up seeing the movie and I'm surprisingly very glad I did. It was funny at some parts, wasn't really a kids movie at all I thought. The movie was based more around the couple than the actually dog which I liked. The ending is extremely sad, like others have sai in previous reviews the theatre was sold out and near the end of the movie EVERYONE was crying, I rarely cry watching movies and I've never seen my older bro cry in my entire life but it happened during this movie. To the lady a couple of reviews below me that said it was terrible:
REALLY?! Are you kidding me?!
Don't go to any dog movie above a "G" rating and expect the dog to live.