Story
Without Kyle, Max falls into a terrible state. When Kyle’s family eventually takes him in, Max responds well only to Kyle’s brother Justin (Josh Wiggins). Justin himself is struggling to deal with Kyle’s death, as well as the pressure of living up to his family’s standards.
When Tyler visits the Wincott family, he tries to convince everyone that Kyle’s death was the result of Max becoming violent and turning on Kyle. But one night in the woods, Justin sees Tyler selling weapons. After a fight, Justin escapes from the woods with Max. They begin a crusade to prove that Tyler is guilty and to avenge Kyle’s death.
Themes
Relationships; war and conflict; military dogs; revenge
Violence
Max has some violence. For example:
Sexual references
None of concern
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
Max shows some use of substances, including when one character offers another character a bottle of beer.
Nudity and sexual activity
Max shows some mild sexual activity and nudity, including when a teenage boy and girl kiss and embrace.
Product placement
Nothing of concern
Coarse language
Max has some mild coarse language.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Max is an inspiring story about triumphing over loss and battling against evil.
The movie follows US military dog Max as he recovers from the loss of his handler Kyle, together with Kyle’s brother Justin. The movie emphasises the importance of getting support from loved ones in difficult times. It also strongly highlights issues of morality, honesty and the importance of owning up to your mistakes.
The movie is recommended for viewers over 13 years. We don’t recommend it for children under 10 years because of its violent scenes and scenes that show dogs being injured. We recommend parental guidance for children aged 10-13 years.
This movie could give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues like:
- war and its impact on individuals and society
- conflict and differences of opinion in families
- grief and how it affects people who are bereaved.