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Marmaduke
2010 88 min United States of America PG 18+
★4.3
Family, Comedy
Director: Tom Dey
💬 Based on the comic
«Marmaduke»
byBrad Anderson
Trailers
Description
When Phil and Debbie Winslow relocate from their native Kansas to the sunny climes of Orange County, their big-hearted, havoc-wreaking Great Dane gets a taste of the dog's life, California-style.
Budget:
$50M
US Gross:
$33.64M
Worldwide:
$83.76M
Starring
Owen Wilson
Actor
Judy Greer
Actor
Lee Pace
Actor
Awards
Razzie Awards 2011
— Worst Supporting Actor
Key opinion
Marmaduke is widely regarded as a generic and uninspired family comedy that relies heavily on tired teen-movie tropes featuring talking animals. While younger viewers may find its bright aesthetic and dog-centric humor engaging, most critics and adult audiences find the script lazy and the anthropomorphism of the animals jarring.
| Originality | The narrative relies exclusively on recycled teen-comedy tropes, such as high school social hierarchies and predictable romance arcs, rather than original storytelling. | |
| Production | The decision to have animals speak results in awkward, artificial CGI mouth movements that frequently distract from the character interactions. | |
| Acting | Human performances are widely described as drained or irrelevant, with even talented actors like Lee Pace being relegated to primitive, unmemorable roles. | |
| Theme | The film attempts to mirror human social issues like class divide and bullying through canine behavior, a choice that critics find either lazy or tonally dissonant. | |
| Humor | The humor is polarizing; some find it a lighthearted and funny 'mood booster,' while many others criticize it as stale, childish, or reliant on annoying slapstick. | |
| Accessibility | The film's suitability is debated: it is frequently dismissed as a waste of time for older viewers, but is often cited as a harmless, bright, and engaging experience for younger children. |