Miami is a movie town. It’s not just that we like to watch. The film industry also likes to produce its stuff down here. The warm weather and South Beach are a big draw for an industry tired of the same old Hollywood hospitality.
Maybe that’s why “Marley and Me” (based on the eponymous book on the life of a dog who dies after bloating—twice) is being filmed down here in sunny Miami—in a hospital near me!
(Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson are the stars of this project, unlikely though they may seem to anyone who’s read the book.)
Lately, the producers have been scouting for vet sites all over town. One of them even called me the other day. She’d apparently been informed of my practice promiscuity in the earlier days of my professional career in Miami, hence my resource-worthiness.
After I confessed that I’d actually read “Marley and Me,” she wanted to know where she could find a practice to suit the film. Ummmm….in Phialdelphia?
For those of you who haven’t read it, this book (which has a way of tugging at your heartstrings better than most books of its ilk) is set in the Northeast in a homey sort of animal hospital.
Problem is, most high-end Miami vet hospitals tend towards the modern Miami Vice-ish look (glass block, sleek furniture, bright lighting, pastel colors, etc.). I couldn’t for the life of me think of a hospital or clinic that would suit the needs of a film crew and offer the kind of character this producer was seeking. No way.
Finally, I offered up my boyfriend’s hospital (Miami Veterinary Specialists)—a high tech place with plenty of room for a film crew and lots of blank space ideal for refitting to a the aesthetic whims of a meticulous production team.
But they had already been there—and thought it too high tech and modern. And that’s where I launched into my interior designer mode: Move the ultrasound machines, remove the fluid pumps, add a façade of green mid-century tiling, etc…
After I was done with her I think I’d made some headway. Maybe I’ll get a little finder’s fee for my two cents. At minimum, I expect to be compensated via star power. The least the “Marley and Me” folks can do is to let me watch Owen and Jennifer work, don’t you think?
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I think you're thinking of a different book--Marley and Me was written by a guy who was a Miami Herald (I think) columnist for a while. He gets Marley when he first gets married and most of Marley's life IS set in Miami! There is a whole side thing about Marley loving to eat mangos from the yard, and those just don't grow up here :)
Later he DOES move to Philly--and if I recall correctly, Marley did not die from bloat (though it was long enough ago that I am fuzzy on details) but from advancing age.
DrSteggy February 5th, 2008 06:00:00 PM
Ack! Talk about strange casting. Now the movie will be about them, not the dog. Sounds like another Great Gatsby to me.
Laura Bennett February 5th, 2008 06:02:00 PM
It's been awhile since I read the book, but I do recall that a lot of the book was set in Miami. And Marley did not die of bloat, but old age. You probably read a lot of the doggie books, as I do, and after awhile, they all seem to run together, if you know what I mean! Seems like the book was a true story written by John? Grogan; going to check it out right now.
Donna February 5th, 2008 09:00:00 PM
Hmmm... Sorry to disagree, but the guy worked for the Palm Beach Post and his wife worked for the Sun-Sentinel. They lived in West Palm Beach befoe he relocated to Penn. to go to work for Rodale's.
kate7047 February 5th, 2008 09:27:00 PM
What! You have a boyfriend? Geez I though we had something going here. We talk in the comments almost every day. That's more than I've ever talked to any of my other girlfriends.
Ok, granted, we've never met. And live about 2000 miles away from each other. But, geez, you gonna let the little things get in the way?
Fine. Go be with Brad or Chad or whatever his name is. I'm going to troll the local dog parks for purse dogs. Their owners are notorious hussies.
It's on you if I get brucellosis.
Larry February 5th, 2008 10:39:00 PM
Good riddance, Larry, one less suitor. The game isn't over until they say "I do." And even then, there's hope. I was worried that you had the edge on me, with your smooth comments and "history" ... but I knew I had a trump card when the Good Doctor linked to my blog TWICE in her blogroll. ===> TWICE!
I've even been sending high quality alfalfa shipments to her pet goat to get her on my side. If you can't win with the girlfriends, you'll never last with the girl. Watch out soon-to-be-celebrity super-genius-pet-surgeon boyfriend. Watch out.
:cP
Border Wars - Christopher February 6th, 2008 01:37:00 AM
Methinks Larry and Chris could use a bucket of cold water. :-)
I have to say movies based on books can be HUGELY different than the book. One of my all time favorite dog books is Winterdance by Gary Paulsen. I was so exicted when I heard they were making a movie based on it. Wanna know what it turned out to be?
Snowdogs!!!!
A "cute" movie on it's own but clearly NOT Winterdance. The only thing from the book similar was that it was in Alaska and there were sled dogs. The rest was Hollywood all the way. (Even though I do love Cuba Gooding Jr.) I am still upset about that.
Marley and Me was very good in parts and for me (a trainer) very fustrating in parts. (nothing new there LOL) He did a good job of educating potential puppy buyers about why you should go to a reputable breeder though.
It will be interesting to see what they do with it. I'm not holding my breath that it will be very much like the book. The book centered around the dog so much. I wonder if it will be like those Beethoven movies (St. Bernard) only for labs.
Marie February 6th, 2008 07:37:00 AM
The person that wrote the book worked for the palm beach post. Dr Jay Butan at Canal Animal Hospital was his vet and actually he has a lovely animal hospital up in Lakeworth.
cyndi February 6th, 2008 07:38:00 AM
Well what book AM I thinking of...? Is this not the bloat book I couldn't put down despite my tear-blurred vision? It was a long time ago...
Christopher and Larry: Yes, I have been claimed--by a surgeon, no less. But keep the love and the alfalfa coming anyway!
Dr. Patty Khuly February 6th, 2008 08:29:00 AM
You are thinking of Marley and Me, except the book is set in Florida, part of the time. In the later part of his life, Marley bloats, recovers, and then bloats again. His owners elect for euthanasia due to age and increasing health difficulties instead of surgery. (Marley stressed easily and tended to bloat when kenneled.)
I remembered bloat too, so I googled it, not being at home to grab the book. I had a dog friend die of bloat after recovering from another illness, so of course, that part of the book made me cry rivers.
compcat February 6th, 2008 02:00:00 PM
> Good riddance, Larry, one less suitor.
Oh, it's not over Chris, to quote Tweety Bird: dish mean wahr!
We live relatively close to each other, so I suggest dueling Pomeranian's at dawn. (they can be surprisingly vicious)
We best keep our feud off the blog though. I've heard Patty can spay from 5 meters with one horrifying swoop.
Larry February 6th, 2008 02:58:00 PM
> Christopher and Larry: Yes, I have been claimed--by a surgeon
I've gotta ask. If surgeons have a God complex, do vet surgeons have doG complex?
Larry February 6th, 2008 03:31:00 PM
oh you guys. You'll go for any brilliant veterinarian who looks drop-dead gorgeous with a corn snake on her glasses.
Gina Spadafori February 6th, 2008 03:40:00 PM
Marley trivia: John Grogan is good friends with Arden Moore, who's a very talented author of pet books and a pet-radio show host. They worked together at the Palm Beach paper.
Gina Spadafori February 6th, 2008 03:41:00 PM
I think Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson should do it better than they made. I was wondering if Tom Hanks and Renée Zellweger performed this film instead of those actors. It would be so much better.
Valeria December 27th, 2008 06:43:23 PM
hi Marly was a great dog and should of lived!
athena January 18th, 2009 10:47:43 PM
Dr. Jay Butan admitted to deliberately killing a cat with an insulin overdose and was charged by the Florida Board with inhumane euthanasia (as well as embezzlement from his business associate).
See Article on how Butan was Marley's vet, citing his violations and his admission of the insulin overdose
Stefani April 14th, 2009 10:45:56 PM
Read the book and cried for Marley he should of never been put in a kennel yes he was old but I can never and will never understand how the Grogan's who claimed they loved him so much could of put him in a kennel over christmas while they were in disney world I believe that killed Marley though he would of died anyway but he must of been so scared and felt so abandoned in his last days. I could never have done that to my dog.
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