Directed by David Frankel
Rated PG
(Two Stars)

“Marley & Me” is a Burma-Shave movie.

For those of us who weren’t around when Burma-Shave signs were the high point of any cross-country car trip, a little history is in order. Back before the interstate highway system and rear-seat DVD players, the Burma Shave Company came up with the clever idea of parsing their ad copy over a series of signs posted along the roadside. As each sign appeared over the horizon it took you another step along the ad narrative, usually leading to a charming punch line.

Director David Frankel tells the story of John (Owen Wilson) and Jennifer (Jennifer Aniston) Grogan’s life with their dog, Marley. He builds his narrative with an orderly progression of life’s milestones, but like the ad guys at Burma-Shave, he hasn’t really figured out what to do with the dead space in between.

Marley enters John and Jennifer’s life as a diversionary tactic. When Jennifer starts talking about having a baby, John thinks that adding a puppy to the household might slow down the decision for a while (it doesn’t). Instead, Marley brings a level of chaos to John and Jennifer’s life that they could hardly imagine.

Marley embodies just about every bad habit a dog could have. He eats furniture, howls when left alone, runs away at every opportunity and (how can I say this?) behaves inappropriately toward his obedience trainer’s leg (Marley’s trainer is played by Kathleen Turner in full drill-sergeant mode).

We watch John and Jennifer progress through the expected stages of their marriage: a baby, then another, a new job and a new house. And, we watch Marley just get bigger and make bigger messes. All the while Frankel leaves us wondering just what kind of movie he’s trying to put together.

If it’s a domestic comedy, the laughs are a little tepid. If we’re watching a domestic drama—and Frankel throws in some very sobering scenes—the characters lack the dimension that would let us care for them.

Through most of the film, Frankel has two things going for him: a very clean plot outline and Marley’s endless rampages. The story wants something more. It’s surprising that a director with “The Devil Wears Prada” in his filmography and comic talents like Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson in his cast struggles to provide it.

Wilson serves as the unofficial narrator for the film, often through his one-sided conversations with Marley. Sitting on a beach, John confides to Marley his mixed feelings about trading in his youth for the responsibilities of family life, rambling on at length and finally concluding, “I guess we had a pretty good run, didn’t we?” It’s a sweet moment—one that any dog owner would recognize—and, at long last, a glimpse of what Frankel has trying to achieve in this film.

Wilson’s laidback, slightly befuddled charm keeps the film moving and he develops a comfortable chemistry with Aniston. They are two incredibly likable actors and they keep film on our good side even when the going is slow.

Late in the movie, Frankel begins to find his footing. Marley mellows with age—to everyone’s relief—and other aspects of the story find some breathing room. Frankel eases up on trying to pry humor from Marley’s many transgressions (a one-trick pony that has worn out its welcome) and begins to explore the ways that pets work their way into the family tapestry.

The humor doesn’t pick up speed, but that’s not the point. “Marley & Me,” in its best scenes, is a dog lover’s movie. What parent doesn’t feel a life-long debt of gratitude to a family pet that stepped forward to be the pal of their young child? What dog owner hasn’t shared secrets with a furry friend who would never think to judge them? This film, that seems so perfunctory for much of its running time, finds its heart in the end.

“Marley & Me” never delivers the comic electricity that you’d expect from a pairing of Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, but like the ad guys at Burma-Shave it knows that a strong finish can make up for a lot.