Marmaduke [2010] September 12, 2010

 Marmaduke (voice over by Owen Wilson) is a Great Dane owned by the Wilson family. Phil (Lee Pace) was given an opportunity by his employer to move over to Orange County where his family can live in a bigger house with swimming pool, owns a company car and much more benefits. His wife agrees but his children and pets dislike the decision.

Marmaduke is a typical Great Dane which understands his family in and outs but causes trouble everywhere. Phil is a workaholic trying to give his all to his family. At the new location, he brings Marmaduke to the dog park to meet his boss, Don Twombly (William H. Macy) to discuss about an ad campaign to win over the competitor and getting their product into every pet store.

At the park, Marmaduke made some new friends and enemies. Marmaduke saw a beautiful dog named Jezebel (voiced over by Fergie) whose boyfriend; Bosco (voiced over by Kiefer Sutherland) ruled the park. Bosco gave Marmaduke a warning and asked him to stay away from them and their sacred place.

Marmaduke then met Mazie (voiced over by Emma Stone) and gang – Giuseppe, a Chinese crested dog (voiced over by Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and Raisin the Dachshund (voiced over by Steve Coogan). Mazie invited Marmaduke to her party but Marmaduke destroyed the old juke box. He then suggested that they should crash Bosco’s party. On their way there, they cross path with Chupadogra (voiced over by Sam Elliott), who is feared for killing its owner.

The next day, Marmaduke asked Mazie to groom him into a top dog so that he can have a girlfriend. Mazie even gave her favorite toy to Marmaduke for the grooming session misunderstood that Marmaduke was actually falling for her. The next day, Marmaduke asked Carlos (a cat voiced over by George Lopez) to drop in at the park. Marmaduke pretended to be the mighty ferocious dog taking up a cat and hurting Carlos in the end.

While on the way to work, Phil thought up an idea for the ad campaign with some unintentional help from Marmaduke. He suggested to his boss who didn’t bought the idea and Phil asked him to believe in him. They went on with the plan and launch the dog surfing competition. The competition was between Bosco and Marmaduke. Marmaduke is afraid of water and when he saw he huge wave coming in, he bump Bosco out of the surfing board. Marmaduke then struggles to stay afloat from the water but appear to be surfing the waves from the audience point of view. He even performed a stunt towards the end before plunging into the sea. Marmaduke won the competition. Bosco was irritated about it and chase Marmaduke. Marmaduke wants to avoid a fight and ran all over the stage ruining the whole event which supposedly a successful event.

The next day at the dog park, Marmaduke was the new leader of the park. He was so happy that he has got Jezebel as his girlfriend and told off Mazie and the gang. Marmaduke even brought Jezebel on Mazie’s dream date. Marmaduke then organize a party at his house while the Winslow family is going on a work cum holiday at the boat as Phil was given a second chance by the organizers. Bosco crashes the party and discovers Carlos. Bosco unveil the whole act and everyone left the party. Marmaduke was left with no friends and a damaged house.

When the Winslow family returns home from the holiday, they were shock at their damaged house. Phil was so angry that he sent Marmaduke to sleep outside in the yard. Marmaduke was drenched in the rain and decided to run away from home. He took the toy that Mazie gave him and went to her house to return it. Marmaduke ran and stumble across a shelter which Chupadogra resides. He later learned the real truth about Chupadogra (also named Buster) and thanked him for his advice and return home. Marmaduke was lost on the way home.

Mazie wasn’t ready to forgive and took the toy back to his house. Upon reaching, Carlos told him that he is not home and found out that he had run away. She gathered the gang to search for him but failed.

The next morning, Phil woke up and found out that his kids are unhappy all along with some help from Marmaduke’s hints. He was so focus on the job that he had ignored his family. The Winslow later found out Marmaduke had ran away and drove around town to search for him.

Marmaduke ran and ran and later saw Mazie across the street. Both of them cross eyes and ran towards each other. Phil who was fired for not attending an important meeting to search for Marmaduke also saw Marmaduke in the traffic jam and chase after him on foot. When Marmaduke was about to reach Mazie, the ground below collapse and Mazie fell inside. The strong raging water flushed Mazie away. Marmaduke jump in to save her leaving Phil in dismay.

The firemen told Phil that they are conducting a rescue plan. The firemen somehow manage to save Mazie but lost Marmaduke to strong waves of raging waters. Phil was sad and did not give up hope. He ran towards the river and saw Marmaduke struggling in it. He jump into the water to rescue his dog but was also struggling to hold on due to the strong rushing water. He later persuaded Marmaduke to come over to him and succeeded and later was rescued by the fire department to safety.

The entire incident was recorded by some kids and uploaded on Youtube. The whole incident was so famous that it already has 700, 000 hits. Phil was reinstated but hesitated for a moment. He wanted to move back to Kansas but his family suggested otherwise. He and Don later came out with a fantastic ad after securing a huge deal with Petco.

I think you can find strips of Marmaduke comics back in the old Malay Mail comic section

Marmaduke later told Bosco off at the park and declare that everyone can share a piece of the so called sacred place. Marmaduke was worried about Jezebel was in love with him but she told him that she wanted time to be alone and asked him to go after Mazie. Marmaduke and Mazie began a couple and begin dating.

This movie is very relaxing and family oriented movie. Suitable for kids and adults with the numerous cats and dogs involved. It also has a beautiful storyline with some moral values in it. Did you know Marmaduke originated from comic strips?

P.s. Is the review a bit complicated? I find my review slightly complicated and messy. Maybe today I have wrote too many articles already. I need to rest … 3 PSP articles and 1 movie review.

Please give me your comments about my review if you had watched the movie. Thanks.