Max: Movie Review

Writer/director Boaz Yakin has delivered a handful of solid films, like “Fresh”, “Remember the Titans”, and one of Jason Statham’s best “Safe”. Needless to say, I was all in for a movie about a US Marine K-9 that lost its’ handler and was suffering from post-traumatic stress. I wanted to see the bond between a boy and the dog that belonged to the brother that he lost in the war. Unfortunately, “Max” winds up being not much more than a story about a boy and his dog, trying to take down some local criminals. What a disappointment.

Justin Wincott (Josh Wiggins) isn’t the easiest kid for his parents (Thomas Haden Church and Lauren Graham) to deal with. He rarely listens to them and he is quite selfish (like most teenagers). When Justin’s older brother Kyle (Robbie Amell) is killed in Afghanistan, the family takes in Max, Kyle’s K-9 partner during the war. Max is suffering from the traumatic experience of losing his handler, but he can sense that Justin is Kyle’s brother and because of that, Justin is the only person Max trusts.

Early on in “Max”, there is a scene in which Kyle is questioned by his commander about missing weapons that were seized during a raid. Moments later Kyle looks at fellow marine and childhood friend Tyler (Luke Kleintank) with disapproval and we know right then, what unfortunate direction the story will head in.

I love dogs. I love films about dogs. I love films about the relationship people have with their dogs. “Max” could have been something truly unique. I would have loved to have seen the story focus on Max and the family and how Max relates to strangers on a realistic level. This didn’t need to become some kind of kid adventure film (and a bad one at that). Sure, Max is a beautiful animal and he has some cool moments on screen, but the story is just too cookie cutter for my taste.

By: Marc Ferman