This movie is incredible, and very inspiring if you want to train your dog. The movie is a little dark, but it's also a great family movie. If you own a dog, right after you watch this movie you feel like training your dog. It has a great animal theme, and if you are a dog lover, then I assure you, that you will love this movie.I was a little shocked when I first saw this movie, because it's supposed to be kind of a family movie, but a lot of people died, or got shot. Also Ray (the dad) points a gun at Max (the dog obviously) and threatens to shoot him. A lot of the movie is based on guns, and at the beginning of the movie there is war. There is also a lot of gangs, and low lives in the movie, and all of them but one die at the end.The movie is about a 23 year old guy named Kyle who is a marine. At the beginning of the movie Kyle is on an a mission in Afghanistan, and dies, his dog named Max gets sent to Texas where Kyle's family lives. Max bonds to Kyle's brother Justin, so Justin starts to work with the dog. Justin Makes Bootleg Video games, and sells them to a guy named Emilio. A friend of Kyle's named Tyler sells guns to Emilio...

The Belgian Shepherd or Malinois is so called as the breed was first established in the Belgian city of Malines. Also I am a french citizen in my mid 50's and as many people do not know, the french army is using Malinois as "war" dogs as they are much more efficient than German shepherd. As far as I know, they are not used in combat missions but are used for example as security patrols in air force bases. And also I would like to tell that if any viewer would be tempted to buy a Malinois just because of this excellent movie, I would discourage them as dealing with a Malinois is kind of different as dealing with a Yorkshire as Malinois are very obedient dogs but as play companions, even if they are very faithful to the owners, they would not be my first choice. Waoof!!

'MAX': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)A family adventure flick; about a war dog, who was used to assist US marines in Afghanistan, that's taken in by it's handler's family, after the handler is killed in battle. The film was directed by Boaz Yakin (who's also directed other family flicks, like 'REMEMBER THE TITANS' and 'UPTOWN GIRLS'), and it was written by Yakin and Sheldon Lettich (a veteran action movie writer; including multiple Jeanne-Claude Van Damme movies). It stars Josh Wiggins, Thomas Haden Church, Lauren Graham, Dejon LaQuake, Mia Xitlali, Luke Kleintank, Robbie Amell and Jay Hernandez. The film is a well made, and traditional, family flick.When U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott (Amell) is killed in battle, in Afghanistan, his war dog, Max, suffers some severe PTSD. Max is taken in by Kyle's family; and put under the care of Kyle's brother, Justin (Wiggins). Justin is (at first) reluctant to take care of the dog, but they quickly form a special bond. Max proves his loyalty, to the Wincott family, when all of their lives are placed in danger; by Kyle's corrupt Marine buddy, Tyler Harne (Kleintank).I wasn't expecting to enjoy this film, nearly as much as I did; I was expecting a pretty cheesy family drama, pro-military, propaganda flick. I was wrong. The movie is surprisingly heartfelt and exciting; it's also pretty well acted, and directed. There's action, and serious danger; throughout. It's also a beautiful 'dog buddy flick'; every 'animal lover' should see it!Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/3D-Xa6uhK5U

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.