Marmaduke (Blu-ray Review)

(Insert terrible, dog-related pun here.)

So, when I popped in Marmaduke, I made a little bet with myself on how long it would take before someone in
the film dropped a “Who Let the Dogs Out” reference. My guess was 30 minutes, and I was close—the inevitable
happened 35 minutes into this glossy big-screen adaptation of Brad Anderson’s long-running comic strip. I was kind of
surprised it took as long as it did. There are certain conventions by which all modern, talking-dog films must abide: 1.)
A dog must pee on something ...

Video

Marmaduke bounds onto Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that has all the visual hallmarks of a kid’s
movie—bright, borderline-unnatural lighting, vivid colors, and tight, eye-popping contrast. From So Cal sunshine on
ultra-green grass to crisp ocean blues and blazing neon lights under the boardwalk, Marmaduke’s color palette is
intense. And thanks to deep black levels, the image has real punch and presence. Granted, it’s all stylized to the point of
looking slightly...

Audio

The same goes for the film’s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, which is pretty typical for kid flick fare, but
possibly better than you might expect. Obviously, Marmaduke gets up to all kinds of antics in this 88-minute gag fest—
from busting up a Dance Dance Revolution machine to riding a massive pipeline wave in a surfing contest—so there’s
ample opportunity for the track to strain at its leash. The effects are all well-implemented and even show off some
satisfying dynamic oomph w...

Supplements

Puppy Marmaduke and Kitty Carlos: Home Movies (1080p, 3:28)
"Home video" footage of the "baby" versions of Marmaduke and Carlos interacting. Cute.

Marmaduke Mayhem! Gag Reel (1080p, 2:40)
This is, quite literally, a gag reel. At one point, the dog that plays Marmaduke wolfs down a slice of pizza, and an
animal handler reaches down into his gob and fetches it out before the dog has a chance to swallow it.

Deleted Scenes (1080p, 9:28)
Inc...

Final Words

Skip this “tail?” Lazy, long-in-the-tooth doggerel? All bark and no comedic bite? Ought to be put down? You’ll want to
leave it on “paws?” Marma-dookie? Okay, that’s it. I’m all out. What more is there to say about
Marmaduke? Kids’ll probably like it, but parents will want to hide for its 87-minute duration. This is right down
there with Garfield at the bottom of the list of ill-advised comic strip adaptations. A sequel, unfortunately, seems
inevitable.......

Read full review: Blu-ray.com

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Marmaduke (Blu-ray Review)