Marmaduke – A 20th Century Fox Release

http://www.themarmadukemovie.com/

Release Date: June 4th

Rated G

Running time: 87 minutes

 

Tom Dey (dir.)

 

Tim Rasmussen (writer)

Vince Di Meglio (writer)

 

Brad Anderson (comic)

Phil Leeming (comic)

 

Christopher Lennertz (music)

 

Owen Wilson as Marmaduke (voice)

Emma Stone as Mazie (voice)

George Lopez as Carlos (voice)

Lee Pace as Phil Winslow

Judy Greer as Debbie Winslow

William H. Macy as Don Twombly

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: Joe Lederer

Marmaduke makes some fast four-legged friends at his new home.

 

Our reviews below:

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Marmaduke Review By John C.

*** (out of 4)

The most surprising thing about Marmaduke is that it’s actually pretty good.  It’s entertaining enough for adults, but more importantly, kids are gonna love it.  This is a movie that actually manages to be better than the poster, trailer or current comic series seen in the paper every morning, might suggest.

 

When the Winslow family moves to California from Kansas, they bring with them their large Great Dane, Marmaduke (Owen Wilson), and their cat Carlos (George Lopez).  Phil Winslow (Lee Pace) gets a marketing gig at an organic pet food company, but if he wants to keep the position, he has to impress his dog-loving boss (William H. Macy).

 

Marmaduke faces new challenges trying to fit into the dog park, and even ends up in a love triangle of sorts.  It’s all predictable fodder for a kid’s flick, but I truthfully found it to be more entertaining than other recent family films, like The Squeakquel or Tooth Fairy.

 

Although the acting by the humans, with the exception of William H. Macy, could be called sub-par, the voice acting is strong, particularly Owen Wilson in the title role.  The main reason I enjoyed watching Marmaduke is for the dog-lovers delight of different breeds and personalities.  My favourite dog has to be the little British one, Raisin (voiced by Steve Coogan), who wears an adorable little bow tie.

 

Some will hate Marmaduke, but to be honest, there’s nothing seriously wrong with it for what it is.  It’s a harmless family film, that musters up fair entertainment value for the price of a ticket.  This probably isn’t worthy of quite such a high rating, but what the heck, I enjoyed all the dogs, I’m giving it 3-stars.

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Marmaduke Review by Erin V.

*** (out of 4)

Based on the classic comics that have run in papers for over 50 years, this newest kids comedy is actually a whole lot of fun.  In it, Owen Wilson voices Marmaduke – the big Great Dane who’s the title character of the flick.  And he does a great job at it too.

 

The film opens with a voice-over of Marmaduke talking about what it’s like to be a giant ‘teenage’ dog, and a brief introduction to his human pack (which also includes a cat).  Since the movie focuses on the dog and the other dogs in his life, the people are not really developed much, more seen through a simpler dog perspective.  The dogs however, that Marmaduke meets at the dog park all have different personalities and are fun to watch (and listen to).  Pretty much the plot could be summed up as ‘after moving from Kansas to California, Marmaduke has to try to fit in with a new group of dogs, while his owner Phil tries to impress his new boss at a pet food company, and the rest of the human family try to adjust too.  Things get a little out of hand before the whole family realize what’s important and how to work together.’

 

It follows a pretty predictable plotline, but rather than seeming uninspired, it just seemed to be following closely to a ‘genre story pattern,’ if you will, much like action films often resort to.  So rather than looking at how unique the film was, I thought, was this done well for what it was?  In my book, yes.  It was entertaining, will definitely hold the attention of the kids who go see it, and won’t be really annoying for the adults as well.  I think, like me, they may inadvertently find themselves amused.  It is a sweet movie too – especially by the end – so, as summer approaches, go see this one for a family trip to the movies.

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Marmaduke Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

When I first saw the trailer for Marmaduke, I expected to see just another cute dog movie.  I was pleasantly surprised to see an intelligent and charmingly witty family film.  What works is the fact that the animals never talk to humans, just to each other.  One actually believes the animals are talking as the CGI lip synching is seamless with the live furry actors.

 

The storyline is simple and charming too.  When Phil, an advertiser for a pet food company gets a new job opportunity, he uproots his family from Kansas to sunny California, along with Marmaduke.  Here, there are dog parks, which like high school, have their cliques.  The biggest dog clique are the purebreds, a group of popular dogs run by a rottweiler bully named Bosco.  Marmaduke, being the new dog on the block, gets picked on by Bosco, but at the same time, has feelings for Jezebel, a beautiful rough collie who is also Bosco’s girlfriend.  The mutts, however, welcome Marmaduke openly.  They include a little English dog named Raisin, a Chinese Crested mix who is afraid of pumas (cougars), and a pretty rescued Australian Cattle Dog mix named Mazie.  Mazie has feelings for Marmaduke, but Marmaduke is blind to that fact, as he wants to be with the popular purebreds, and go with Jezebel.  Over time, and after a scary and exciting rescue, Marmaduke realizes it’s okay to be himself.

 

One of the best things about Marmaduke is the voice acting and casting.  While the human cast is pretty average, except for William H. Macy, the dogs and cat are really good.  The dog who plays Marmaduke is a Canadian Great Dane.  What I really liked is how the film focuses mostly on the animals.  I especially liked Owen Wilson’s running dialogue as Marmaduke.  Despite the anthropomorphism, the animals personalities are true to dogs and cats.  Anyone who loves animals, or who wants to see a fun family movie, should definitely go to see Marmaduke.

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Marmaduke Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

It’s a real challenge trying to bring a well-known one-dimensional cartoon character like Marmaduke to life.  Marmaduke the movie has met the challenge.  It has Owen Wilson to thank for voicing Marmaduke and bringing him to life in such a perfect Marmaduke way.  This is a fun movie from start to finish.

 

The story is told from Marmaduke’s point of view.  He likens himself to the awkward lanky kids in high school who is always tripping over himself and getting picked on.  When Marmaduke’s human family moves from Kansas to California Marmaduke finds himself trying to fit in at the local dog park, the dog equivalent of high school.  As in any high school there are cliques, outcasts and bullies.  Being a mutt Marmaduke doesn’t fit in with the pedigree clique run by alpha Rottweiler, Bosco.  Marmaduke makes the mistake of developing a crush on Bosco’s girlfriend, a beautiful Collie named Jezebel and fails to notice that Mazie, an Australian cattle dog mix has a thing for him.

 

Marmaduke’s human family also have their own storyline going on with Dad, Phil (Lee Pace) trying to impress his new boss, organic pet food company owner played eccentrically well by William H. Macy.  As expected Marmaduke inadvertently messes things up for his human family.  This leads to an exciting water rescue plotline that brings Marmaduke and his family closer together.

 

What works so well in this movie is the excellent voice acting of the dog characters, especially Owen Wilson as Marmaduke and George Lopez as Carlos the family cat.  The CGI of the animals’ mouths moving as they speak to one another is well done.  The humour in the film never goes over the top with gross out gags.  The dogs themselves are well, dog-gone cute.  Dog lovers, those looking for a clean, family friendly film will bark with joy for Marmaduke.

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Marmaduke Review By Tony

*** (out of 4)

I have never followed the Marmaduke strip, even as a kid, and the silly-looking trailer didn’t appeal to me; however, just as in my previous review of Leap Year, I was pleasantly surprised by the film.  Despite the shameless treatment of dogs and cats as near-human save for language, reinforced by the analogous opening scenes of a very tall guy not fitting into high school, the story works on its own terms, thanks to a well-edited  and witty script.

 

The animal voice cast was strong, led by the ever charming and laid-back Owen Wilson (just as good as the dog as he was as the master in Marley and Me), and the human cast, unknown to me save for the always scene-stealing William H. Macy, was attractive and serviceable.

 

I particularly liked the fact that the story didn’t depend on silly slapstick and gross-out gags, and any humour in that direction was delivered with subtle wit and flawless timing.  Finally, being free of offensive content, Marmaduke can be enjoyed by the whole family.

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Consensus: Although the human cast is just average, Owen Wilson’s voice is put to good use in the title role.  Marmaduke also features a bounty of dogs that are fun to watch.  Overall, this is harmless fun that the whole family can enjoy. *** (Out of 4)