Animals and children. The two great ‘no-nos’ of the film-making industry. Match them with box office draws like comedy soap-star Jennifer Aniston (Jenny Grogan) and straight-faced comic actor Owen Wilson (John Grogan) and you result in a recipe for potential mawkishness. Perhaps surprisingly, while the slush does exist and the Labrador (inevitably) steals several of the scenes, there remains a distinct ‘magic’ existent between Messrs Aniston and Wilson in this lightweight ‘rom-com’.

Although the title should have been ‘Marley & Them’, as it progresses through the growth of a young family, there is enough pathos (and even ‘tragedy’, with the young couple’s first child being still-born) that it begins to feel real. Yet, Aniston and Wilson are truly superb together, in fact, I would venture to suggest that this is possibly La Aniston’s most worthy performance since her days as a member of the ‘Friends’ cast. It is hard to imagine Wilson being much good without Ben Stiller parked alongside but he does manage marvels with the dog and the film is peppered with plenty of well-judged moments of laughter and, yes, even tears by the bucket-load.

The basis for the film was an autobiographical novel written in 2005 (only three years prior to its Christmas 2008 release) by the John Grogan of the film. In fact, the story-line remains true to the novel, in that the New York journalist acquired a puppy that was so independently minded, immensely strong, perpetually hungry, horrendously destructive and just so loving of its family that it warranted the tale being told. The dog changes very little in the film, apart from aging, until its reaches its conclusion and, at a ripe old age of just over thirteen years, it succumbs to a twisted gut that floors it.

A trip to the vet provides some respite but there is always a fear that the condition will return and be irreparable, which it does and the inevitable happens. The dog dies. It does not sound like much of a plot but, let me tell you, it works and works beautifully. It was a deserving Christmas blockbuster and is now available on DVD, which means that you can weep contentedly in the comfort of your own armchair. The quality and unabashed loveliness of the locations, the effectiveness of the actors (and even the children, several of which were required to mark the growing-up nature of the film) and the ever-so-sweet story are part of its joy. I strongly recommend this to all members of the family and I warrant that even the most stern-faced will soften towards the conclusion.