Marley & Me ***

A sweet and funny movie about finding your way into adulthood, married life, deferred dreams, and how dealing with a rambunctious dog fits into all that, "Marley & Me" is the true story of a Ft. Lauderdale newspaper columnist, John Grogan, who often wrote about "the worst dog in the world," and whose best-selling book of the same name has made millions laugh and cry. Director David Frankel ("The Devil Wears Prada") elicits warm performances from Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, who have real chemistry on screen, and he does not flinch from showing the weepy ending. This, I'm sure accounts for the PG rating, so parents be warned.

"Marley & Me" gives us a for instance of what has become a pervasive American phenomenon: many pet owners consider their animal companions to be part of the family. A recent poll found that a majority of pet owners, including men, but especially women, say they can communicate with their felines and canines. As the middle child Conor writes in a note to go into Marley's grave: "Through life or death, I will always love you. Your brother, Conor Richard Grogan."

Eric Dane (McSteamy to some of you) as Grogan's colleage Sebastian, who I think is an addition to the book, and a good one, presents a dashing foil to the stay-at-home, take-it-as-it-comes writer. Alan Arkin contributes another kind of humor with his low-key portrait of the proverbial cold and irrascible editor. And as someone who lived there in south Florida at the same time, I can tell you that locations and interiors are spot-on. "Marley" is not high drama, nor is it low comedy, either. It is, however, just the thing to remind you again about what in life is really important.

Rated PG. 120 minutes. David Frankel - Director, Scott Frank - Writer (screenplay), Don Roos - Writer (screenplay), John Grogan - Writer (book), Gil Netter - Producer, Karen Rosenfelt - Producer, Florian Ballhaus - Cinematographer, Theodore Shapiro - Composer, Stuart Wurtzel - Production Designer, Mark Livolsi - Editor. Produced by Fox 2000 Pictures. Distributed by Twentieth Centtury Fox Film Corporation.

Principal actors: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Alan Arkin, Eric Dane, and Kathleen Turner.