Heroes Tell the Truth
The film Max easily falls into the category of the typical boy and his dog genre of movie. However, there is much more to this film than simply the portrayal of a loyal dog and his relationship with his master. Max (a Belgian Malinois) is a working dog serving the Marine Corps in Afghanistan. Kyle Wincott, Max's handler, is killed on a patrol. After being traumatized as a result of the death of his handler (and the threat of being put to sleep) Max comes into the possession of Justin who is Kyle's younger brother. The relationship between Justin and Max is difficult at first but with the help of Carmen (who befriends Justin), Justin and Max become a team. This is a good family film as the amount of violence is moderate and the romance is very light. In sum, Max is a great movie that capably develops the themes of responsibility, integrity, loyalty, honor, friendship, and being a man.