It’s dog days for Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston.
The two are at work in Miami, getting ready to film “Marley & Me,” a film about a man who adopts a mischievous Labrador, People magazine reports.
The film, based on the book by John Grogan and scheduled to be released at Christmas, looks likely to be a hit. The book is hugely successful (3.2 million hardcovers are in print, USA Today reports.) and its heart-tugging story about man’s best friend could pull in the holiday crowds.
But starring opposite animals isn’t always the smartest career choice for actors. While some pet pairings are inspired — who would Elle Woods be without sidekick Bruiser? — others are just … dogs.
Here’s a look at some of the best and worst animal movies and what effect they had on actors’ careers.
Best in Show
(UP) Parker Posey: Her frantic search for the busy bee toy for her Weimaraner was hilarious.
(UP) Jane Lynch: Her role as a lesbian poodle trainer may have gotten her cast as a lesbian lawyer on “The L Word.”
Garfield: The Movie and Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties
(SIDE) Bill Murray: His role as the talking cat was questionable casting, but his career is too big to let one bad pet movie soil his reputation.
(SIDE) Jennifer Love Hewitt: It’s not a good career move to star in two movies about an animated cat, but Hewitt didn’t exactly have a huge movie career to ruin.
The Shaggy Dog
(DOWN) Tim Allen: Allen suffers the indignities of acting out dog behavior, including sniffing, humping and licking himself, in this man-turns-into-dog remake.
(DOWN) Kristin Davis: Being in a dog of a movie is not a good career move.
Eight Below
(UP) Paul Walker: Almost any actor would look good with these adorable Siberian husky co-stars.
Legally Blonde
(UP) Reese Witherspoon: Elle Woods solidified Witherspoon’s superstar status and helped the dog-in-the-shoulder-bag trend.
