Marley & Me The Puppy Years

Due for release mid-November is the straight to DVD prequel to the hit 2008 film Marley & Me. Titled Marley & Me The Puppy Years this prequel follows a long standing tradition of straight to video prequels and sequels (Dumb and Dumberer, Son of the Mask, et al) in that the original cast have declined to take part. Politely no doubt.

Although I’m no fan of the original my heart sure did sink when the words ‘Grayson Russell as the voice of Marley’ popped up in the opening credits. Yes folks, in this version Marley can speak, and Dear Lord he does not shut up. It’s worse than we thought.

Marley is being dog-sat by the Grogans’ nephew Bodi (Travis Turner) and in an attempt to prove to his mother that he is a responsible well rounded teen he decides to train Marley for the Ultimate Puppy Championships. But hang on, I know what you’re thinking; where’s the fun in one talking dog? Fear not, in order to qualify for the aforementioned competition you apparently need a team of three puppies to enter.  Conveniently Bodi is able to borrow the neighbour’s dogs Moose and Fuschia (voiced by Ryan Grantham and Lauren Lavoie) to enter. Let the cutesy shenanigans commence.

Ok, so we’ve fixed the problem of the original film where Marley couldn’t express himself vocally, we’ve fixed the fact that Marley had no friends… what else do we need for a hit movie? Villains! We need villains for conflict! And who better than the Germans! The evil cheating Germans have puppies of their own that are vying for the Ultimate Puppy Championship title, complete with German accents and Bratwurst sausages for lunch the trio of miniature Pinschers (or the ‘Woof Gang’ to use their team name) will compete against Marley’s ‘Rasta Rascals’. There’s also ‘The Barkaneers’, the ‘Thunder from…’ ok there are lots of talking dogs, so..many…talking…dogs. Oh there’s also a talking ginger cat thrown in for good luck too. He has no team name though, he’s just been lifted from the set of Shrek 2.

Rated a U certificate I doubt that Marley & Me The Puppy Years will appeal to anyone over the age of six or seven. Although competently made and the performances are decent enough, the humour ranges from crude to downright offensive. The ‘girl puppy’ worries about breaking nails and how her hair looks. What a whiney Bitch (ha!) talk about Girl-Power, eh? In addition to the Germans, Australians, Rastafarians, and African Americans are also mimicked by those lovable pups; I just wished they’d gone the whole hog and blacked up.

On the plus side The Puppy Years at least shows some attempt to train that goddamn dog, those lazy Grogan’s from Marley & Me got everything they deserved by being crap pet owners. Also, of course we know that little Marley will soon be getting his bollocks chopped. On the whole the film just looks like an extended Andrex ad, apart from the SPAM scenes which just look like, well an advert for SPAM. Marley loves SPAM you see.

Do not be fooled, The Puppy Years has nothing to do with the original and is merely cashing in on the success of its predecessor. Whilst the original had the saving grace of not being so much about a dog, rather the progression of life into middle age, The Puppy Years is All About the Dog, World’s worst dog? I dunno, but it’s sure a contender for world’s worst film.

In terms of special features there is a 10 minute documentary about training the dogs, a bizarre music video, and a five minute video of the cast telling us how much they luurve the little doggies.

Director Michael Damian does not really stand a chance with the source material. The film is relying on the cute-factor of the animals but it’s more Look Whose Talking Now than Homeward Bound. Parents may enjoy the wholesome family values and importance of teamwork and trying ones best, but other than that, watching a Labrador puppy in goggles and false teeth is all you are left with. I’m sure, however, it will all end well for Old Yeller, I mean, Marley.

Marley & Me: The Puppy Years is out now on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Laura M Hughes

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