Marmaduke: funny cartoon or a one trick pony?

 Marmaduke, an outsize Great Dane comic panel, was created by Brad Anderson in 1954 and remains popular today—although people mostly either love him or hate him.

A dog as big as Marmaduke causes many funny things to happen around him. (Mostly they are funny because they happen to other people.)

According to a survey of over 3000 dog owners in the UK conducted by a pet insurance company, the Great Dane is the most destructive dog. Repair bills over a lifetime averaged $1420. A full grown Great Dane can weigh up to 200-pounds and stand on its hind legs at over 7-feet tall!

Marmaduke is elegant but clumsy. His friendly tail wag can cause havoc. He is cute and sweet, always loyal and protective of his family who suffer through the inevitable problems of living with a very large house dog.

One minute Marmaduke can be an energetic imposing canine and the next a cuddly lap dog. His facial expressions and body language are often more human than dog.

Marmaduke lives with the Winslow family, Phil, the father; Dottie, a stay at home mom; and the children, Barbie and Billy. Throughout all the misadventures, the love between Marmaduke and his family is always at the forefront.

Marmaduke, the comic strip, is one that people seem to either love or hate. There is a Facebook group, “Marmaduke Sucks,” made up of people who think it is a one joke strip and a waste of ink and paper. Comments are along these lines:

“I love dogs but hate Marmaduke. I'm sorry but how many different versions of ‘Oh, he's on the couch. How funny.’ must we endure?”

“They've been the same old thing since '74.”

On the other hand there are those who have threatened to cancel their subscription to the newspaper unless they put Marmaduke back in.

If it was just a one gag panel, it probably wouldn’t have drawn so many devoted fans. Anderson, the creator, described the theme like this:

When you express so-called human emotions in an animal, you're getting into the real character of the dog. When you get into the character itself, you go a step beyond the cartoon and into life. Source 

And now Marmaduke is going to be made into a movie mixing CGI and live-action. Owen Wilson will be doing the voice of CG Marmaduke. Marmaduke doesn’t speak in the comic strip (or even express himself in thought bubbles), but maybe Owen learned dogspeak from all the dogs who played Marley in Marley and Me.

It might seem strange to turn a one panel cartoon into a full length feature, but Marmaduke has name recognition and many fans. Marmaduke the movie is scheduled to open in June 2010.

Is this a movie you would like to see or would you rather join the “Marmaduke sucks” group on Facebook?

Comments

[Khyra]

I'd go see a movie about my furiend Honey The Great Dane from NZ~

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

[Hudson]

I've always been a fan of Marmaduke. He just slays me with the cute expressions on his face and I couldn't think of a better voice for Marmaduke than Owen Wilson.Can't wait for the movie!!!

[Dennis the Vizsla]

I can take him or leave him. I don't think I'll spend $10.50 to see the movie though!

[jackie]

I had a great dane "Baby"...he was big enough to eat hay and shit in the streets..he slept with me, which meant he slept on me...he took out an entire window when he decided he didn't want to stay at home the first time i left him. not just the glass, the entire window, frame and all..so yes they are great danes but are more like small ponys.

[cube]

We don't get Marmaduke in our local paper so I have only passing familiarity with the comic. I don't have anything against him or that giant red dog whose name escapes me at the moment.

To answer your question, I probably won't go see the film. I've been very selective about which movies I watch at the theatre, Star Trek being the latest one, because I much prefer getting the DVD and watching in the comfort of my home. Can you believe that I didn't read Marley & Me or see the film? I'm just meh about Owen Wilson. Can't figure out how he scores all these big jobs.

[utenzi]

I can take him or leave him---I figure if you've seen a few dozen panels of the cartoon, you've pretty much got it covered. Hard to predict how good the movie will be. As cartoon dogs go, Marmaduke is great for expressiveness but still, there needs to be some kind of plot.

[Jimmy]

I haven't even seen "Marley and Me" yet?

[Steve Bartlett]

I find that most newspaper comic strips do stop being funny after the first year or so -- the artist gets lazy and just keeps recycling the same tired jokes over and over again. Marmaduke is definitely not funny any more -- neither is Garfield, and it was turned into a really pointless and not very successful movie.

[Marion]

I have always loved Marmaduke. He does things my dogs do...or would love to. I'd go see the movie!

[Lynn Sinclair]

Not a big fan, but it's obvious that he's loved by many.

[pam]

I'll second Dennis: I don't read Marmaduke, and I probably won't see the movie, but far be it from me to deny anyone else the pleasure.

[janet]

i'm on the love marmaduke side having lived with danes for 30 years. we never had any outrageous distuction - the odd shoe now & then- lots of love, joy & some heartbreak. they NEVER live long enough!