MARMADUKE

US, 2010, 87 minutes, Colour.
Lee Pace, Judy Greer, Caroline Sunshine, Finley Jacobsen.
Voices of: Owen Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland, Emma Stone, George Lopez, Christopher Mintz- Plasse, Steve Coogan, Stacy Ferguson, Marlon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr, Sam Elliott.
Directed by Tom Dey.

Moviemakers have a passion for telling dog stories. And, of course, so do their owners. So, there seems to be a ready market out there for more dogs on screen. Marmaduke is one that fulfils the definition of a family film. Large great dane who rarely stops talking and making goofs and gaffes which should please the younger audiences. Dogs talking and aping human behaviour will entertain humans in a non-demanding mood.

In Marley and Me, Owen Wilson owned a dog and lived through years of affection and disruption. This time, he is the voice of the chattering Marmaduke. There are some other interesting voices for the range of dogs, especially those who hang out in an LA dog park. Emma Stone is the nice but ignored Maisie while Fergie is the attractive Collie, girlfriend of the bully around town, Bosco, who is voiced by Kiefer Sutherland. Two Wayans brothers have comic dog roles and there is the unmistakeable drawl of Sam Elliott for the old veteran. Lee Pace has a lot to do as Dad, put through all kinds of paces, so to speak, by Marmaduke, transferring his family from Kansas to LA and trying to ingratiate himself with the boss of the pet food company, William H. Macy. Judy Greer has much less to do as Mum and looks on benignly at the goings on, with Marmaduke’s mayhem and her pouty young teenage daughter who is at that age... and the young son who skateboards, does not want to play soccer but does not want to disappoint his father.

Marmaduke is sometimes a bit slow on the uptake despite his comments about how the family is going and how he thinks they take his advice. But, making friends early with a group of muts, including Maisie and a Brit-voiced dog voiced by Steve Coogan, he is attracted by the alluring collie, sets up his fellow pet, the cat (George Lopez) to play scared so that he can be the hero. Trapped into entering a dog surfing contest, he does very well – and it all goes to his head, with dire results. How can Marmaduke be redeemed? You will have to go and see it (or watch it over the kids’ shoulders when it comes on DVD).

1. The popularity of dog films? For children, adults, families?

2. The cartoon origins of this film, transformed to the screen, action sequences, the inclusion of words? Films about talking dogs, the mouthing? The barks, words, humans and communication and not understanding dogs?

3. The move from Kansas to Los Angeles, the Los Angeles house, the parks, beaches, mansions? Ordinary Los Angeles? The score?

4. Marmaduke and the credits, the sketches, the final credits?

5. Marmaduke and the voice-over? Owen Wilson and his voice, tone, drawl? As a great dane? Marmaduke’s size, big, clumsy, getting chased, being upset, the bedroom, the breaking wind, the cat as his friend? Carlos the cat – and the Hispanic touch?

6. The Winslow family, Dad, pleasant, earnest, his job, pet food, always busy, wanting the move? Not listening to the family? Mum and her willingness to go, Brian and his willingness, Barbara and her tantrum? Wanting her friends? The move, the new house, settling in, the new job, new schools, new friends?

7. Marmaduke and Carlos, together, going out, the extroverted Marmaduke, going to parties, finding the mutts, Maisie and the attraction, learning from her, taking her for granted?

8. Going to the park, the party, the crowd, Bosco and his tough attitudes, Jezebel as his girlfriend, sweet? The big group of followers, conforming? Marmaduke and his head being turned?

9. The boss, anxious about contracts, the plans, the father and his ideas, Marmaduke bowling the boss over? The surf, the idea of the competition? The visitors from the company? Bosco wanting to win the surfing? The big waves, Marmaduke pushed out to sea, riding the surfboard, winning? The acclaim, the upset and the clash? The visitors being drenched?

10. Brian, his father wanting him to play soccer, his not being willing, the shirt? Barbara, at school, with the girls, disowning Marmaduke? The boy and the attraction? Wanting to own Marmaduke, her changing attitude?

11. The weekend away, the children’s reactions? Marmaduke and the friends, the party, the absolute mess, the return of the family, Dad’s reaction, Marmaduke’s being left outside, his leaving? Trying to rectify things by leaving the shirt and Barbara’s mobile phone?

12. Chupadogra, at first seeming menacing with Marmaduke and Maisie, Marmaduke meeting him again, finding him old, listening to his story, the wise talk, saving him from the pound?

13. Maisie and the mutts, upset with Marmaduke, yet searching for him?

14. The family searching for Marmaduke, the breaking of the water main? Marmaduke and Maisie, going into the hole, the flood, the rescue? Dad and his going to search for Marmaduke, diving into the water, saving him?

15. The boss, relenting about sacking Dad, the rescue filmed and shown on YouTube?, the range of sponsors?

16. The dogs and their dance, the video commercial?

17. Staying in Los Angeles, Mum and the kids resigned, Marmaduke happy?