Just so...so bad

Disappointment for a huge fan!

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Always being curious (and wary) of movies with Dogs as prominent 'stars' - took a chance on "Max" and was well pleased. Directed with flare by Boaz Yakin ('Remember the Titans') and sporting a smart screenplay by Sheldon Lettich along with some input from the director. Max moves at a good pace and manages to engage all age groups - although some moments may seem to stretch its PG rating to the limits - with some scenes involving grim heavies dealing in illegal weapons - who will stop at nothing to ply their nasty trade (including possibly killing kids and dogs) this could at times seem a little out of place.What keeps it all on track are the values involving families and friends working together in the most meaningful possible ways. Max, a Belgian Malinois Shepherd begins his working career serving as a combat dog in the mid-east war zone. Situations take a dramatic turn sparking events that will alter the lives of the Wincott family forever. Justin Wiggins does very well in the role of the Wincott's rebellious younger son - with Thomas Heden Church as his battle hardened father - Lauren Graham as mom, attempts to offset their differences with her positive nature.German born Cinematographer Stefan Czapsky (Edward Scissorhands) delivers many striking scenes and ex 'Yes' Band member turned prolific movie composer Trevor Rabin, wraps it up within an imaginative, lush score. Action scenes are often exceptionally well staged - with one exiting scene set on an old railway bridge. For some, it might at times seem a bit over intense for its genre but this won't be noticed by many of today's users of mindless computer games and over-the-top blockbuster movies. This one though, could prove to be more thoughtful and equally as interesting as any on offer. Might even find it's well worth taking this remarkable dog for a stroll...

Fans of Lassie and Rin Tin Tin will undoubtedly find much to celebrate in "Max," an old-fashioned a-boy-and-his-dog story updated to reflect our post-9/11 age.The boy in this instance is Justin (Josh Wiggins), a disgruntled teen whose older brother, Kyle (Robbie Amell), a Marine who trains dogs to sniff out weapon caches on the field of battle, is killed in Afghanistan. After Kyle's dog, Max, develops a sort of canine version of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the dead man's family dutifully rescues him, assigning Justin the unenviable task of rehabilitating him back to the point where he can interact with humans again without instinctively wanting to rip their throats out. This Justin does with the help of his new friend, Carmen (the charming Mia Xitlali), who knows a thing or two about training challenging dogs.In addition to his canine-raising duties, Justin has to contend with his tough-as-nails military dad (Thomas Haden Church) and his own innate laziness and cynicism. But with the help of Max, a devoted and kindly mother (Lauren Graham), and the love of a new girlfriend, Justin eventually grows into his manhood, demonstrating that rehabilitation is often a two-way street.There are any number of touching moments in the screenplay by Sheldon Lettich and co-writer/director Boaz Yakin, which, happily, manages to keep the unavoidable suds down to a minimum. However, even the fine performances (especially by Wiggins) can't overcome an utterly preposterous subplot involving Justin's entanglement with a local gun-running cartel, a storyline that not only comes to dominate the second half of the movie but may make the movie itself somewhat less than appropriate for the youngest members of its intended audience.Ah well, at least the canine stunt work - kudos to both Max and his trainer on that score - is super impressive throughout.

Max is a boy meet dog who has faced psychological trauma in a war zone film.Max is a sniffer dog in Afghanistan and his handler, Kyle is killed. Back in the USA, Max only seems to be friendly with Justin, Max's rebellious younger brother who is still at school and it is decided to leave him with Justin.Justin is reluctant at first but eventually both of them bond, however Kyle's former army buddy causes issues by implying that Max was somehow responsible for Max's death.Later Max and Justin find themselves going after some gangsters dealing with stolen weapons which ties back to Afghanistan but the police are after Max and want to put him to sleep because they have been passed on some false information about him.Kids will likely to enjoy this film. The plot is fast and loose with plenty of plot holes and descends into silliness at the end which will make adults just shrug as it is so clunky.It is also very manipulative by allying itself closely with the military and the stars and stripes which it reckons the audience will uncritically lap up. If it wanted to seriously examine the role of military war dogs and the impact war has on them it is a big fail.Worse still some of the cast are left foundering and the normally reliable Thomas Haden Church gives a pedestrian performance as the dad.

Set in Texas but filmed in North Carolina, we viewed it on DVD from the public library.The theme revolves around dogs that have been trained and used in war over the decades. This story centers on MAX, a loyal and expert bomb and weapons sniffing dog that loses his owner and seems to be having his own bout with PTSD.Back home in Texas (really NC) MAX seems way out of sorts and the handlers think the best remedy is to put him down. But when the brother of the Marine that had handled MAX during war shows up MAX seems to recognize that he is part of the family, and the boy takes him home.The father of the family is also an ex-Marine, Thomas Haden Church as Ray Wincott, who had been injured in the 1991 brief Gulf War. His son, brother of the deceased Marine, is young Josh Wiggins as Justin Wincott. His mother is played by one of my very favorites, Lauren Graham as Pamela Wincott.So, in this fictional story that is dedicated to war-trained dogs, some criminal activity is injected. An old family friend and now former Marine who had been with the deceased brother, has smuggled some arms into the states and is trying to sell them to Mexicans.So josh and MAX, with the help of some friends, end up hunting down the crooks and helping to prevent the illegal gun sales.I must admit some of the story was a bit cheesy but we enjoyed it anyway.I was also impressed with young Mia Xitlali as Carmen, who helps chase the crooks and in the process takes a pretty good liking to Josh by the end.