Max: Best Friend. Hero. Marine (directed by Boaz Yakin, PG, 2015,
110 minutes)
Max is a movie about a boy becoming a
man, being a hero. Max is about a
dog, a Marine. Max is about gorgeous
Texas scenery and the Fourth of July (two versions) and scenes reminiscent of Deliverance and even ET. Max
is about being lost and becoming found. Max
is about a dog healing a family after the older brother leaves (and is killed
in Afghanistan). Max is about the healing powers of children who teach their parents
about life. Max is everything,
including adventure.
And the Story is –
A dog’s
handler is killed in Afghanistan and the dog cannot work with another handler
so he goes to live with his handler’s family but seems to be too high-strung to
survive in that life. The family is dysfunctional, the other son (the
protagonist) is a rebel and beginning to get into trouble. Scenes of crime, and
dog fights, and weapons fired, and a kidnapping and animal control and betrayal
and resurection. . . . The dog is removed and returns to the family to bring
the family back together – full of adventure, night bike rides, budding romance
(to keep young girls’ attentions).
The
dictionary defines hero as a person
noted for courageous acts or nobility of character – a person who, in the opinion
of others, has special achievements, abilities or personal qualities and is
regarded as a role model or ideal. Justin’s older brother is a hero who died in
Afghanistan. Justin’s father is a hero, twice-over, Justin becomes a hero and
Max is also a hero and a member of the family – can there ever be too many
heroes?
Why is it
that adults in movies and books have to be saved by the kids? Why are the
adults so oblivious and one-dimensional? Why don’t kids trust adults (maybe
because if they did, there would be no story?)
Unlikely Friendships - Once a
Marine, Always a Marine
Kids alone
out in the woods (on their bikes) at night, even if accompanied by a former military
dog, is a bit scary in a movie to be watching at night (and I’m an adult!). Knives
and guns and dogfights (well-shot scenes, however) and betrayal between friends
- DogEvals questions the PG rating for all of this and also due to Justin’s
opening acts of earning spending money.
Chihuahua City
Every
serious movie also needs a spot of delight: Max
provides it in Justin’s friend’s Chuy’s house, home to a gazillion Chihuahuas! (Chuy
and his family are Hispanic, after all!)
Hmmmmm. . . .
The father
seems a bit old for his wife (by a couple of decades even though in real life,
the actors are separated by only seven years) and to be Justin’s father and,
even though the movie has a major to advise, when Tyler first fires his 9 mm,
his stance is not what this Afghanistan veteran would employ.
If You Are a Dog Trainer, . . . .
Dog
trainers and serious dog people will go just a little bit batty about Max. Even though Max is rewarded and
with a KONG, he is asked to Sit by being pushed down. And the word, command, rather than cue. . . . On the other hand, the two
dog fights are quite unusual and exceedingly well-choreographed. Fortunately,
most of the gory action happens off-stage even though the final survival scene
of Max the dog is one that I would film more believably.
After a Dog Movie, One in a Million
Generally,
after a dog movie, the breed becomes a popular item. Just look at 101 Dalmatians* or Lady and the Tramp**. However, Max in
the movie and book is a Malinois and this reviewer does not think Mal’s will
become the next number one breed, although they are handsome (think
short-haired well-constructed German Shepherd Dogs) due to the behaviors
portrayed in Max – a bit much
behaviorally for any family to harbor. Max is one in a million.
The book is
very good and a quick read which convinced us to get the DVD. Usually we prefer
the book if we read the book before watching the movie (and vice-versa) but, in
this case, the movie explains things better. Both are highly worth getting.
**to be
reviewed
Read and Watch: more about military working dogs
War Dogs (book) – highly recommended
Sergeant Stubby (book)
Dogs of War (book)
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