Max (2015)
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A military dog seeking a new home becomes entangled in a dangerous web of cartel dealings and family secrets.
The story
Max, a Belgian Malinois military dog used to help U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, is handled by Kyle Wincott. When weapons seized by his squad go missing, Kyle realizes his friend Tyler Harne is involved in shady dealings. During a mission to confront a suicide bomber, Max is injured and Kyle is killed. Kyle's brother Justin, his mother Pamela, and father Ray learn of the death and adopt Max, who is otherwise facing euthanasia due to disturbed behavior. As Justin begins to bond with the dog, he discovers that Max is only calm around him, sensing a connection to his late brother.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After Kyle Wincott's death in Afghanistan, his family adopts his military dog, Max. Justin Wincott, Kyle's brother, initially struggles to bond with the dog but eventually warms up to him. While Justin is learning to handle Max, he begins to suspect that Kyle's friend Tyler Harne was involved in illegal activities. Justin discovers that Tyler is attempting to sell stolen weapons to a cartel. During a secret observation of a cartel meeting, Max is attacked by the cartel's dogs and manages to fight them off. Tyler and the cartel's handler, Stack, accuse Max of causing harm and demand his euthanization. Max escapes and eventually leads Justin, Chuy, and Carmen into the woods to rescue Ray, who has been taken hostage by the cartel. In a final confrontation, they incapacitate the cartel members and rescue Ray. During a high-speed chase, Stack is killed in a crash. Tyler corners Justin at a bridge, but Max distracts him, allowing Justin to knock him off balance. Max then attacks Tyler, saving Justin's life. Both fall from the bridge; Tyler dies from the fall while Max survives with injuries. Emilio is arrested, and the family welcomes Max into their home.
- First release year
- 2015
- Runtime (minutes)
- 111
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Boaz Yakin
- Writers
- Boaz Yakin · screenplay; Sheldon Lettich · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Josh Wiggins · Justin Wincott; Carlos · Max; Dejon LaQuake · Chuy; Thomas Haden Church · Raymond "Ray" Wincott; Robbie Amell · Kyle Wincott; Lauren Graham · Pamela Wincott; Luke Kleintank · Tyler Harne; Jay Hernandez · Sgt. Reyes
- Genres
- family; adventure; war; drama
- Themes
- loyalty; family; sacrifice; trauma
- Tone and mood
- dramatic; tense; family-friendly
- Premise and plot tags
- war dog; rescue; cartel; military
- Franchise connections
- Max
- Reception
- The film received mixed or average reviews, with critics noting its disjointed plot despite its good intentions. It received an 'A' average grade from audiences on CinemaScore.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 37% · review count: 98; Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 25
- Production trivia
- The film was originally scheduled for release on January 30, 2015, before being moved twice.; Principal photography took place in North Carolina.; The film was released alongside Ted 2.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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