Marley is chosen to play the role of a family dog in a feature-length film. It’s a nonpaying role, but the Grogan family is excited to visit set and watch the filming. The director warns that Marley is excitable and instructs the crew to continue shooting through any antics, hoping to capture a real family dog experience. The first day on the movie set is a disaster, as Marley chews through props and proves difficult to direct. John receives a call after the first day of shooting that leads him to believe Marley has been fired, but the director calls him back the next day. Marley’s antics are hilarious on film, so he continues working for four days. John follows up with the studio continuously for updates on the movie’s release, eventually discovering that it has gone straight to video. John excitedly brings home a copy, and the family watches together, laughing and cheering for Marley’s two minutes of screen time.

Two more murders in the neighborhood and struggles to fit a growing family in a small home push the Grogans to leave West Palm Beach and settle in Boca Raton. Their new home is twice the size but lacks the charm of their first home.