Dog lovers will enjoy this new movie from Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, a family action adventure film by writer director Boaz Yakin. It is a story of healing from PTSD*, grief and loss, and a celebration of the bond between a boy and his dog.

    In real life, the dogs are on the front lines, making sure the troops don’t walk onto IED’s (improvised explosive devices). When handlers* and dogs lose partners, they go through the same PTSD, which is what the film explores.

    A precision-trained military dog, Max serves on the frontlines in Afghanistan alongside his handler, U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott. But when things go terribly wrong on maneuvers*, Kyle is mortally* wounded and Max, traumatized* by the loss of his best friend, is unable to remain in service.

    Shipped back to the United States, the only human he seems willing to connect with is Kyle’s teenage brother, Justin, so Max is adopted by Kyle’s family, basically saving his life. But Justin has his own troubles, such as living up to his father’s expectations for him. He isn’t interested in taking responsibility for his brother’s dog. However, Max may be Justin’s only chance to discover what really happened to his brother that day on the front, and with the help of a tough-talking teen, Carmen, who has a way with dogs, Justin begins to appreciate his dog companion.

    Justin’s growing trust in Max helps the four-legged veteran* come back to his heroic self, and as the pair race against time to solve a mystery*, they find more excitement — and danger — than they bargained for. But they each might also find an unlikely new best friend in each other. (SD-Agencies)