A movie recommendation: Go see "Marley & Me"

Any of us who has ever had a dog ... or even loves dogs needs to take a break and go see the movie "Marley & Me" this holiday season.

It is a fairly accurate portrayal of John Grogan's bestselling book of a few years ago about a family that adopts a dog that ... well ... gets into everything.

The slapstick humor you may have seen in the TV ads is only part of the story. Like the book, the movie is really about a family's up-and-down relationship with its pet ... and vice versa.

Dogs (and, to a lesser extent, cats) do nice things for us. They make us smile and make us grunt. They don't demand much -- just our promise to take care of them. In return, they will be fiercely loyal and will do as well as they can to bring cheer to our lives. It's a simple bargain. We don't do nearly as well with people when it comes to such things.

There is a touching scene near the end when Luke Wilson and Marley are sitting in the sun in a meadow. Wilson stares at the nice view and murmurs to Marley, "You'll let me know when the time is right, won't you, old boy?" The dog merely snuggles closer to Wilson. The bond is clear - both trust each other.

I understand there are people who don't like dogs for reasons that may well be legitimate. Still, I find it unfortunate for them this is the case. When I return home from work or play, the first sighting of Pete in the front window wagging his tail in anticipation always makes me feel good.

This movie, despite its sad ending (that rivals the book), did the same thing. And when is the last time you walked out of a theater with a smile on your face and a light heart?