The dog Max is truly the main star in this film
meant to honor the more than 3,000 dogs that have served in Iraq and
Afghanistan since 9/11. They are
amazing in their ability to search for and detect weapons and explosives. Incidentally, about as many handlers as
dogs (just under 30) have been killed during service in this time period. The filmmakers used five different dogs
for the movie, according to animal coordinator Mark Forbes, but one named
Carlos stood out in his personality, charisma, and acting abilities, so he was
used most of the time.
The story involves Max and his handler Kyle
(Amell) searching for weapons and explosives in Afghanistan, when a bomb
explodes killing Kyle, and although Max survived, he was left with PTSD. Kyle’s family is devastated, and when
the opportunity arises for them to bring Max into to their home, they do. Max is very skittish and obviously
disturbed, but he recognizes familiarity in Justin (Wiggins), Kyle’s younger
brother. One of Justin’s friends
knows quite a bit about dogs, so she gives Justin pointers, and soon Max is
literally eating out of Justin’s hand.
His mother recognizes that this will be good for Justin, a sometimes
sullen and self-preoccupied teen who plays videogames every chance he gets, and
has a little business going on the side illegally downloading and selling them.
But Max will have to prove himself, especially
to Justin’s cantankerous father Ray (Church). Soon, the whole situation becomes much more complicated when
Kyle’s friend from childhood and buddy in the war, Tyler (Kleintank) comes back
to his hometown and asks to work for Ray.
At that point, the story becomes more of a thriller with guns and
criminals involved.
Max
the film, written (with Sheldon Lettich) and directed by Boaz Yakin ends up
being rather macho, with the males—most of whom are rather obnoxious—jockeying
for dominance and thinking nothing about drawing their guns at the slightest
provocation. Even the teenage girl
who is good with dogs is quick with the retorts and shoving her cousin down,
much like many boys that age do.
Although I prefer this to a pink and lace effect, I would rather her
other skills—knowledge, logic, empathy—had been more prominent in the film and
the insults dispensed with. None
of the characters are very appealing, at least in the beginning. The Justin character is the most
sympathetic—although he is entirely obnoxious in the beginning—and the film is
good at showing the dawning of what is really going on occurs to him. Perhaps the point is to show that he is
capable of learning and changing as a result of his experience.
This film is good at whipping up passions—for
the dog, for justice to be served and the truth to come out—(also, the
harrowing bike rides at break-neck speeds through the forest are especially
thrilling)—but there are missed opportunities, for instance, to address
Justin’s illegal game activity, and the film becomes completely implausible in
the last scenes.
The dog Max’s acting chops and heroics
are the best parts of Max.
Grade: C By
Donna R. Copeland
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