Newlywed newspaper writer, John Grogan (Owen Wilson) decides to try a test run at parenting by adopting a puppy for his wife, (Jennifer Aniston). John's reporter buddy (Eric Dane) talks him into it. "How hard can raising a puppy be?" he wonders. Soon, a yellow Labrador retriever puppy named Marley comes into their lives along with mayhem, chaos and the destruction of furniture. As Marley grows from adorable puppy to 100 pounds of exuberant, energetic dog, the challenges and the fun multiply. Marley is enrolled in obedience class only to be expelled as disruptive and incorrigible by the harried instructor, (Kathleen Turner). Walking the dog is more than an aerobic workout and more like a run on the wild side. Marley gets loose often and takes off on doggie adventures that result in aggravation and embarrassment for his owners. Some of the dog's misdeeds find their way into the newspaper columns that John writes, opening up a successful new job for him as a feature writer. Marley continues to provide fodder for Grogan's writing, eventually resulting in the book this movie is based on, "Marley and Me."