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My 11-year-old daughter and I saw "Marley & Me" last night, and I’ll be posting a review on it shortly.
It’s based on the true story of writer John Grogan (Owen Wilson) and his wife, Jenny (Jennifer Aniston), following their life together as they move to Florida, have three kids, and adopt a rambunctious dog named Marley who completely disrupts their lives. John calls him "the world’s worst dog," but they love him anyway.
"Marley & Me" is billed as a family movie, but there’s a lot of content that, in my view, pushes it from a PG rating to a PG-13 rating.
For those who don’t want to know any spoilers about the movie, I’ll continue my commentary after the jump…
So be warned – SPOILERS AFTER THE JUMP!
Included in the storyline:
Marley dies. Albeit, he lives a long life first, but the last 20 minutes are gut-wrenching, both for the Grogan family and for moviegoers. The plot includes kids writing sad notes to Marley and laying them in the dog’s grave, on top of his body covered up in a blanket. We also see the dad take Marley to the vet and sit with him while he’s put to sleep. We see the injection going into Marley, and him closing his eyes and drifting off, as the dad weeps.
A girl gets stabbed. The Grogans live in a neighborhood in Florida with a high crime rate. A young neighbor-girl (presumably a teenager) gets stabbed as she’s coming home one night, and her parents aren’t there. The Grogans hear her screams, and John goes next door to find her bleeding in the driveway, while Jenny calls 911. The way it’s played out, it’s also a little unclear whether the girl’s been raped or not.
Sex is implied. Much of the story involves the Grogan family trying to have babies. While we don’t see any sexual activity, there’s some pre-sex scenes (the couple in bed at home, in a creaky bed at an Irish inn), Jenny takes multiple pregnancy tests, suffers a miscarriage, and swims seductively in the nude in a pool, telling John to dive in and collect his "birthday present." Also, John’s best friend (Eric Dane) is a lecherous guy who has all sorts of girlfriends and uses John’s dog – and later, his baby – to get girls’ attention.
Jenny Grogan loses it while staying home with the kids. She decides to quit her reporter job and stay home to raise the kids. But while the babies are small, she has a bit of a breakdown, gets angry at Marley for being rambunctious in the house, and tells John to "get rid of that dog!"
None of the above seems appropriate for young kids – OR a PG rating. My friend, Pamela Oldham, who writes on a variety of topics, including family and child issues, has some good thoughts to say on the matter:
"The industry just keeps lowering the standards for PG, not because the movies are appropriate for that age group, but because that’s the financial sweet spot. Animals dying and girls getting stabbed deeply affect children, even if the impact is not immediately apparent."
Pam says she doesn’t buy into the notion that kids are more sophisticated these days, nor that they seem to take previously objectionable scenes in stride.
"Those brain cells are in the midst of development, and the stuff kids are exposed to at a young age, even when we think the concepts are too complex for their understanding, shapes them far more than we realize. Although brain development continues through age 25, the greatest amount of brain development occurs before the age of 10, and that’s why kids in the G to PG age range are especially vulnerable."
Also, my friend, Jen Singer of MommaSaid.net, blogged on her Good Housekeeping blog that movies intended for young kids are TOO SCARY for young kids. She writes, in particular, about the upcoming "Coraline." Read Jen’s Good Housekeeping blog here.
What do you think? Is "Marley & Me" too intense for kids under the age of 13?
Images: Marley & Me, 20th Century-Fox Film Corp., 2008
i think that u can still watch this movie but u will have to explain first to the child about the stabbing and having the sex because they could be scared
please explain to your child
of course it should be a pg, my son who is 8 watched it, and was fine, all be it a little sad at the end, but i think that its fine as a pg, its a great film, and i think everyone should have the pleasure of watching it! i think it could even be a U
Bottom line, watch the movie before you bring kids to see it. Even U rated movies are unsuitable. I watch color me purple when I was young and that scarred me for life.
I understand the bits about the stabbing and the sex, but how would getting angry at a dog for destructive behavior and a pet’s death move it up to PG-13?
I think the film should have been banned. It trawled levels of depravity never seen before in modern American cinema. The scene of Marley being put down; piece of cake, that was nothing. What was cruel was Jennifer wearing that John Mayer T Shirt! I think the sequel will be better: Marley and Me 2: Where Marley rips Brad and Ange’s throats out so they stop boring us with their crap. But the best scene is when Justin Breber walks into Marley’s grave falls down and is decapitated whilst singing baby baby. Forget The Hurt Locker, this is quality stuff.
My six year old niece saw it! I am SSSOOOO mad at the producers for making this a PG movie. With out all of the swearing and the other content, it would have been a pretty good movie. And what’s with the person that got stabbed? I can’t believe that they called this PG. It couldn’t have been rated R, but it was definetaly a PG-13 movie. It DOES have an impact on kids. Once you see something like that, you just will never be the same. Also in the respect that you’ll be afraid that you’ll get stabbed, and if you have a dog, you will start getting so freaked out! I give this movie 0 stars, 1 star if you hold me at gunpoint.
I’m 12, and me and I had to turn the thing off, cause it was so bad. Def a PG 13! Sex, swearing and bad words, stuff like that. I stopped right in the middle of it. I would have been mature about it, but definitely NOT for 7 or 8 year olds. I had NO clue it would be that bad, hollywood!!!!
i think it should be rated pg 13
im ten and i had to fassforward stuff alot
My nine year old son had a hard time going to sleep after viewing the video, worrying about getting stabbed. He also complained that there was too much kissing. My twelve year old daughter thought there was too much kissing, too. Afterward, my wife and I discussed how much we liked the movie for us, but thought it was rated incorrectly and marketted inaccurately (although successfully). The movie is a good opportunity to introduce concepts like sex and safety issues to children, but it sure would be nice to have the heads-up in advance.
As for the dog dying, it’s probably a good idea to introduce this concept to kids via a story (e.g., this film) rather than having them experience it cold turkey with their own dog. I saw Old Yeller as a kid, and I survived it.
I agree. Profanity is throughout the movie also. The whole time I was thinking, “this is PG?” I enjoyed it, but it should’ve been rated PG-13.
I don’t know how many times I had to fast-forward the “bad” parts because it was very inappropriate for children. My daughter is 9 years old and was quite uncomfortable during these scenes. Also, just the other day at the summer recreation program, they were watching this movie and I did not know they were. If I had known I wouldn’t have let her go at all. This movie should definately be rated PG-13 or even “R”. It dragged on and on. Such a boring movie.
whom ever made that movie was obviously a bs artist
I watched a lot of movies and television when I was younger that was rated higher than this movie and I really don’t feel like it affected me negatively. I think we just need to communicate with our children. I don’t really understand what seeing the types of things that are being complained about here does that is so awful? I just think the average child is exposed to a lot more within the dynamics of there own family. I think seeing this stuff in movies actually makes it a little less traumatic. Especially the death of the dog etc… It is true, we can only censor so much. What your 12 year olds talk about in school is so much worse that one they see in a movie…. get in touch with what’s really going on!
I am 12 years old, and I don’t think it’s intense for me. BUT…it should be rated PG-13 cuz of all the stuff lil kids shouldnt see. PLUS, they have cuss words in the movie.
This should definetely be rated PG13. It was promoted as a FAMILY movie, but much of it involves the pursuit of sex. My 7 year old grandaughter saw it, when I watched it with her I had the sense to turn it off, but how in the world does garner just a PG rating? Hollywood, you’re ridiculous!
Okay, I’m 13. What the heck were the people that rated this movie thinking!!! I watched it alone, without any other people around, and the pre-sex scenes made even ME feel uncomftortable. I really thought this movie would be cute…
I just got done watching the movie, with my fiance’s four children. I had to shut off the television a few times. I kept debating whether or not they made a mistake by listing this movie as PG. I guess this is how sick the world is getting. PG-13 is the new 1990 raw R, nowadays. Rediculous. I truly wish someone would be able to do something about it! There is too much adult/teen written all in it. And the sad part is people, adults and children, don’t see the problem, because we’re all so used to the garbage that’s on even the daytime entertainment television! There is just too many unnecessary scenes, that could’ve really made it a somewhat family movie, but definately not a movie to be associated with PG.
oh yeah um i read all the comments and CHARLIE i think your right i havent seen the movie yet but i’m going to and SHELIA uh yeah the worlds not perfect!
plus i am going to be a director when i’m older so charlie you rule sheliah oh sheliah kids will learn bas they get older so PLEASE stop saying mean things about this movie! and you know what many things uh yeah will DISTURB your kids but they get over it! (trust me i know!)
also whoever said they don’t like dogs well you should they have very cool perssonalitys!
Hi,i’m carli ummmm. lets just say i’m not 14 at but older than 10 almost .so um could i like watch this cause my mom is going to buy the MARLEY & ME MOVIE and i already read the book and there is nothing bad in it?!!?!? also just curious who is the director of the movie?
Its a parent’s responsibility to filter AND provide information as children grow; explaining and offering them guidance and safety. As children mature, some material’s age appropriateness does depend on the individual. Again, it is the parent’s job to try to manage that. Many topics in the media aren’t obtrusive because they are so prevalent. That doesn’t make them appropriate for young children. I won’t blindly accept what someone else tells me is ok for my family, but I do expect film makers to be honest in marketing and follow their own industry format for telling me about the content.
Charlie, I gave you real life experience of how this movie embarrassed and disturbed my kids. Maybe when you have children you will understand.