Rated PG for some rude humor and language
Directed by Tom Dey (Failure to Launch and Showtime)
Starring the voices of Owen Wilson, George Lopez and Ron Perlman
Marmaduke, the world's most lovable Great Dane, leaps from comic strip to the big screen.
In this family comedy, the super-sized dog who never fit in, finally finds a place where it's okay to stand out. Now living large in Orange County, California, Marmaduke is helping his family make the big transition from the Midwest to The O.C. But he's also discovering that fitting in with his new four-legged friends isn't always easy for a 200-pound teenage dog. Lucky for Marmaduke, he doesn't have to go it alone because he always has his “step-bro” and best pal, Carlos, a Russian Blue Cat, watching his back.
Let me begin with a few positives: Marmaduke offers some great lessons of courage, friendship, loyalty, honesty, accepting others and facing mistakes. I think it’s hard to ignore those highlights even when it’s in a form of a dog whose comic has never once made me laugh.
I hate to use the word negative, because it’s really more like harmless yet very predictable antics that made me not like it. There is the typical giant dog behavior like Marmaduke knocking someone over or passing gas or when his friends destroy the Winslows' living room that are practically nonstop. I hope I didn’t ruin anything for you.
One of the biggest “pet peeves” (pun intended) is the talking animals bit that is just so old. And seriously how many more dog poop jokes must we endure?
The comics never made me laugh and this film didn’t either. Your younger kids may enjoy it but I can’t go higher than Only If Free. Sorry Marmaduke.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Most of the crude humor is harmless for older kids and the positive lessons are worth seeing.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: What was the theme (or the message) of this movie?
A: This simple movie had several themes that stuck out: fitting in with others, the importance of family, and choosing the right friends. All of these are important, and our joy in life can be decreased if we do any of these three wrong.
Q: What can we—as serious Christ-followers—take away from this movie?
A: We need to search out people who love us and want the best for us, because we all need loving people around us, taking care of us. And as they take care of us, we need to take care of them. In Romans 12:9-16, the Bible says:
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
We need to be a blessing to others, but at the same time, be blessed by them.
Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: Truly loving someone means you are devoted to them, you put them first, and you share with them. It also means avoiding sin like pride in the relationship.
Instead of always asking for help, sometimes we need to provide help.
Instead of trying to be at the center of attention, we need to build up others.
Instead of monopolizing the conversation and making it all about us, we need to truly and compassionately listen to others.
Doing these things will make sure we take care of the great friends and relationships God has given us.
