Marley & Me: The Wrong Kind Of Love

First the film, then the love ;-)

There are two kind of films: those that I enjoy watching - they give you some pleasure, and those that are interesting. Some times I get lucky and I see a film that is both and that is really a great experience.

It used to be a rare occurrence that I saw a film that has nothing interesting or is at least pleasurable in some way. In the past few years I have watched more and more such films, and I am aware it might just be me getting old, but I have a feeling that its not.

Marley & Me falls into that category. Its has nothing interesting in it, just a banal story of an average family with a dog, I just waited and waited for something interesting or even vaguely entertaining to happen - all in vain. Its supposed to be about the guy and the dog, but the dog only gets mentioned from time to time as the banality of an average family unravels, and mostly as a nuisance - the worst dog ever.

Then at the end the dog dies - what a surprise. No, really, I was surprised. Not by the dog dying, but that they cared so much - it doesn't show during the film. It was more like: this is the worst dog in history, but we are so lost we rather continue and suffer.

Finally there is that message (I am paraphrasing): dogs are great, they love you if you are poor or rich, smart or stupid, they love you unconditionally it doesn't matter who you are - where can you find that in todays world.

Well, I ask you: why would you want such love. It means they love you just because you are there, the fact that its you is irrelevant - it could be anyone!

I want the people who love me for who I am, otherwise they don't love ME, they just love someone and that could be anyone.

This message also assumes that if you are poor or stupid no one will truly love you (except a dog maybe). That is so condescending. I find that most poor or stupid people I know are loved by someone. And that some one loves them and it has everything to do with them.

So, don't watch the film its true crap, and don't wish for such love - you can do better, yes, even you ;-)