Rated PG, 111 minutes
Animals, kids and senior citizens. They all have a way of tugging at the heart strings, and the sentimental new family film "Max," about a military dog, is no different in the way it predictably manipulates its audience. Military working dog Max, a Belgian Malinois, returns from service in Afghanistan, traumatized by his handler's (Robbie Amell) death. He's adopted by the fallen Marine's family (Josh Wiggins, Thomas Haden Church and Lauren Graham), and they help each other heal from their loss, though not without some troubles of their own. Directed and co-written by Boaz Yakin ("Remember the Titans," "Safe"), "Max" is an uplifting yet calculated family film that for the love of Benji, is nothing new in terms of family films, but it shows some genuine heart and courage. Of course, the real star is Max himself, a Belgian Malinois (a form of a Belgian Shepherd) who will grab your heart quicker than you can say treat, and the story pulls absolutely no bones as it develops the story of Max and his new owner Justin as they build trust and soon discover his late brother's comrade Tyler (Luke Kleintank of "The Young and Restless" and "Gossip Girl" fame) is not who he says he is. Other than Max, Justin's pals, newcomer Mia Xitali and TV actor Dejon LaQuake get most of the best lines in as they help him with Max and fight the bad guys yet it's our canine friend is the one who saves the day, and this film should have no trouble pleasing the young set it's intended for. For what it is, "Max" goes on too long with its faux rah-rah patriotism over the end credits is a little insincere, but it's still a suitable, entertaining live-action family film and a pleasant, though hardly surprising, summer addition to the cineplexes.
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