Have young kids and pets? Don't let them see Marley and Me.

[yy4me]

The book was a fun read and the ending was sad but acceptable. The DVD contains explicit scenes of euthanasia. It did not add a thing to the movie and left me and my grandchildren crying. I cannot figure out why the producers thought this needed to be so graphic.

Children know that their pets will someday not be with them. They can face it when it comes, they do not need to be upset watching a movie. We turned it off during the vets visit. The kids and I were crying. This is entertainment?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. Well, they followed the book

Honestly, the Marley and Me guy is a just one-step above Mr. Jon "Dog Killer" Katz" to me.

It's your responsibility to research what's in a movie before showing it to kids.

[yy4me]

3. I read the book and it was far easier to read through to the end.

One of my grandchildren read it too. We knew it would be sad at the end--as in the book-but not a visual of euthanasia. It is the scene in the vets office that was unnecessary. There could have been a million ways to get through Marley's death than the one they chose. I mentioned this to a friend who has small children and she agreed. Somehow you are just not prepared to see them put the needle in the animals arm.

Why was this necessary for Pete's sake. This is a story marketed to kids and there is enough in this world to upset them, why add another? Reality catches up with them soon enough.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. I never took it as a story marketed towards kids

The book isn't a children's book.

[yy4me]

7. The ads on TV are cute and appeal to youngsters. No-one would

reasonably expect the euthanasia scene. It is rated PG and I guess PG doesn't mean what I thought. How can a child watch the ads and not want to see this cute puppy?

[lukasahero]

8. Actually, they've released a few versions specifically for children

http://www.amazon.com/Marley-Me-Meet-Read-Book/dp/0061704393/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239057416&sr=1-6 -- Ages 4 - 8

http://www.amazon.com/Marley-Dog-Like-No-Other/dp/0061240354/ref=pd_sim_b_2 -- Ages 9 - 12

http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Dog-Marley-John-Grogan/dp/006117114X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239057416&sr=1-5 -- Ages 4 - 8

http://www.amazon.com/Very-Marley-Christmas-John-Grogan/dp/0061372927/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239057416&sr=1-9 - Ages 4 - 8

[MiniMe]

2. I watched it this past weekend....

I couldn't watch the end. I had no desire to. Yes, I knew what happened, and I totally enjoyed the book. But the movie got to a certain point and I turned it off. That's just me. I aree that it isn't a movie for small kids.

[lukasahero]

4. Various family members have called me specifically

to tell me not to go see the movie. I lost my beautiful yellow Lab, Beau, at 14 last year and I was the one who made the final decision to let him go. Beau looked just like the 'real' Marley. I read the book a few times before he passed but the movie will have to go unseen. It would be unbearable.

[yy4me]

6. Our family has a yellow Lab and the grandchildren love that dog

so much. I think it was one of the reasons the scene hit so hard. They are wonderful animals and give us unconditional love and affection.

[lukasahero]

9. I think Labs were made for children

I'm sorry you were caught unawares and sorry that the kids saw that up close and personal before they needed to. It's the one complaint all my family and friends had about the movie - that it was too much to bear after growing so fond of the dog in the film.

[badgerpup]

10. Ummm....

Didn't see the movie, but have seen 'how it ended' a couple times in real life.
On purpose. I'll continue to do so.

Think it's the final...not sure of the word I want...service? courtesy? act of love? you can do for your furkid; to be there with them when they start their journey to the Bridge.

If looked at that way, maybe it's not quite as painful or hard to deal with...but I won't knowingly watch a movie with this kind of scene in it, even in the cause of 'realism'.

With mulitiple furkids, I have enough 'reality' staring me in the face, thanks.

[spooky3]

11. I agree completely.