‘Max’ is a Step Beyond the Heroic Dog Movie Genre

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CHICAGO – From Rin-Tin-Tin to Lassie to Benji, American movie goers have loved the heroic dog. As the film “Max” throws its leash into the ring, the expectation was a dull family drama just about Max the dog himself. What a surprise to learn it was also a poignant meditation on people.

And those people had to heal. What begins in a middle class Texas town, where a young man from there is serving in Afghanistan, ends with his family coming to terms with that war, and what is left behind. Max the dog is the catalyst for all this, and does an appropriate heroic turn, but what really becomes important in the story is what he symbolizes for a family, and how his presence will create a new presence in their own lives. This is a perfect example of how to take one part of a story situation – a weapons sniffing dog in a war zone – and make it more about the people that have to deal with the consequences of that war.

Kyle Wincott (Robbie Amell) is a patriotic Texan serving his country as a Marine in Afghanistan. One of his duties is caring for his platoon’s weapons sniffing dog, Max. He has a proud family at home – father Ray (Thomas Haden Church), mother Pamela (Lauren Graham) and younger brother Justin (Josh Wiggins). Their lives are shattered when Kyle is killed in action.

Josh Wiggins
Justin (Josh Wiggins) with the Title Character in ‘Max’
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Max is shipped back home, to a base near the Wincotts. When he sits near Kyle’s casket during the funeral, the family decides to adopt him. The only person Max will respond to is the reluctant Justin, so he becomes the dog’s new trainer and companion. A new girl in town, Carmen (Mia Xitiali) helps with the unruly war hound, who is suffering from PTSD. Meanwhile, one of Kyle’s fellow warriors, Tyler (Luke Kleintank), comes back to town as well, and has a plan to profit from his service, but he has to deceive the family – and Max – for the plan to work.

From the outside, the film seems like a family-friendly movie about a heroic dog. But the filmmaker – co-writer/director Boaz Yakin – decided to do something different with it. He created a conflict that spoke to the larger conflict of a country at war, not only of the unseen enemies but with themselves. The dog is the catalyst for the family’s healing and redemption, not only for the mourning of their dead son and brother, but for their own psychological wounds.

It is a lofty purpose executed in a simple and adventurous way. The subplot involves an illegal cache of weapons that homeward bound soldier Tyler intends to sell (how he got them back from Afghanistan is never explained, but regardless…), and his deception – he accepts a temporary job from father Ray Wincott – puts Max on his way to saving everyone. Interestingly, Tyler has a confrontation with the young Justin that has a whiff of justification for his actions. That’s the type of balance the film wanted to achieve.

At the center of the redemption and healing is father Ray, portrayed with resounding honor by Thomas Haden Church. The character was a soldier himself, carrying the weight of war wounds and a secret involving those injuries. His road to salvation involves his interaction with Max – which sadly reminds him of his dead son – and his own truth and reconciliation with Justin, also left behind in the wake of the family’s loss. The movie called “Max” is also Ray’s story, and the performance of Thomas Haden Church contains all the nuance that was necessary to communicate a father’s grief and recovery.

Thomas Haden Church, Josh Wiggins
Father Ray (Thomas Haden Church) and Son Justin in ‘Max’
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

There are some clunky parts in the film. The shoe-horning of the subplot with the weapons sales had some “Scooby-Doo” mystery moments (“we would have gotten away with it, if it weren’t for those meddling kids”), and some of the supporting role acting is stiff. But the surprise of the film is that it never panders, never gets political about America’s wars and instead focuses on family, friendships and a loyal dog to provide light for a family’s darkest hours.

And instead of barking and running like Lassie, because Timmy has fallen down the well, Max the dog kicks bad guy booty like the soldier he was. How does he distinguish the good guys from the bad? Go ask Uncle Sam, and he’ll tell you that’s classified.

”Max” opens everywhere on June 26th.. Featuring Thomas Haden Church, Robbie Arnell, Josh Wiggins, Lauren Graham and Mia Xitiali. Written by Boaz Yakin and Sheldon Lettich. Directed by Boaz Yakin. Rated “PG

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Writer, Editorial Coordinator
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2015 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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