Wetting kinetics in the presence of heat transfer, evaporation, and Marangoni effect has been explored using a method used by Joanny and de Gennes [C. R. Acad. Sci. Ser. II 299, 279 (1984)]. The method solves for the dynamic contact angle alpha by equating the rate of surface work to the rate of dissipation. The result in the form of dynamic contact angle alpha as a function of capillary number Ca agrees well with existing experimental data. Qualitative comparisons have been made in cases where quantitative data do not exist. Finally, a form of contact line instability is predicted, for which some experimental justifications are seen. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.