Max **½

Boaz Yakin co-wrote and directed this Family adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Lauren Graham, Thomas Haden Church, Jay Hernandez, Robbie Amell, Josh Wiggins, Luke Kleintank, Miles Mussenden, Dejon LaQuake. Rated PG for action violence, peril, brief language and some thematic elements. Running time is one hour and fifty-one minutes.

A precision-trained military dog, Max, whose handler is mortally wounded, is adopted by his handler's troubled younger brother. When he begins to suspect his older brother's death was not as he and his family had been told, he and Max start searching for answers.

Back in my theatre management days I used to constantly hear the complaint that Hollywood didn't make enough family films. Well, here's one and I'd be willing to bet it will do poorly and will leave quickly. The reason is simple enough: there isn't any real difference between a PG rated movie and your typical TV drama that's available for free (although with a plethora of obnoxious commercials). And families have learned a film like this will be on their TV sets in a relatively short time. When it gets there I think you'll enjoy it. Graham and Haden Church are known TV personalities and the rest of the cast is competent. Production values are fine and the pacing moves right along so you're never bored even though it's twenty minutes too long. If you decide you want to see it (sans commercials) I wouldn't dally, this is unlikely to be here long.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.