Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Max: Too much violence, not enough love.
Max is a highly trained dog who serves alongside Marines in
Afghanistan. He is particularly dedicated to his handler, Kyle Wincott. Kyle
comes from a military family – his father Ray is an esteemed hero of a previous
war.
Kyle’s unit is being investigated for possible involvement
in arms dealing, and Kyle comes to suspect that his friend and fellow Marine Tyler
is involved. Shortly after talking to Tyler about this, Kyle is killed after an
unknown assailant triggers an explosion.
Now, Tyler has returned to Texas and has obtained work with
Kyle’s father, who owns a storage facility. Max is traumatized by the loss of
Kyle, but finds himself comfortable around Kyle’s younger brother, Justin. Ray
and Justin both try to make peace with Kyle’s loss in their own ways, and Justin’s
peace comes in part from his relationship with Kyle’s dog.
However, when Tyler tells Ray that Max was responsible for
Kyle’s death, Ray decides that it’s time for Max to go.
The Adoption Connection
Max, Justin, mother Pamela, and Ray all experience the loss
of a loved one. Although Max is a dog, his experience of loss might most
closely resonate with some adoptees, especially viewers adopted from foster
care – due to a violent situation, and with the influence of dishonest adults,
he was taken away from someone he loved and trusted, and put into a tenuous
relationship with new people in an unfamiliar space, threatened with the
prospect of being sent away (or in Max’s case, euthanized), if he misbehaves. Max is also used as a scapegoat by adults – just
as sometimes families place blame unfairly upon foster children because they
don’t suspect their own children.
Strong Points
Many children in foster care are diagnosed with PTSD. Max
seems to have a canine version of PTSD. Adult viewers could find Max to be a
helpful illustration of how trauma can impact psychology and behavior.
Pamela is consistent in affirming to Justin that she loves
him – and that Ray loves him, too, even
though he isn’t good at showing it.
Justin’s dad confesses a difficult truth to Justin – and the
truth is instrumental in them building a functioning relationship. Ray says, “A
hero always tells the truth, no matter what people think of them, and no matter
what the consequences are.”
Challenges
Justin, in his anger, blames Ray for Kyle’s death, telling
him that if Kyle wasn’t trying to impress his father, he wouldn’t be dead.
Ray’s distance, critical nature, and inability to express
emotions towards his son were uncomfortable to watch.
Weak Points
When Ray is displeased with Justin, he asks his wife,
without seeming to be joking, “Are you sure this one’s ours?” Another character
suggests that Ray doesn’t like his “light brown brothers.”
There’s a lot of gun violence.
*Spoiler alert ----
Kyle was betrayed by Tyler.
Tyler then threatens to kill Justin, and suggests that Justin’s parents won’t
be safe, either. It could be very hard for young kids to see an armed authority
figure be so untrustworthy.
End Spoiler *
Recommendations
Although a movie about a dog seems to be custom-made to
appeal to kids, Max is too violent for most young viewers. Combat scenes are
loud, but expected, but there’s even more personal violence after the war,
where a trust adult threaten to kill a child and everyone he loves. This one’s
probably best left to later teens, but it doesn’t seem particularly likely to
appeal to them, either.
Similar Movies
Some other animal-centric movies that are more kid-friendly
include: Paddington, Penguins of Madagascar, and Chimpanzee. A film with some positive father-son
interactions that’s more kid-friendly is The Boxtrolls.
Questions for
Discussion After the Movie
Losses can divide families or draw them closer together.
What makes the difference? What made the difference for Justin’s family?
How does understanding what Max has been through help you
understand his behaviors? How does it impact your assessment of him?
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