Aimless and disaffected young lass Megan Leavey (an excellent and affecting performance by Kate Mara) decides to join the Marines. While in boot camp Megan meets and becomes close with a temperamental German Shepherd named Rex who's trained to sniff out explosives. They pair are eventually deployed to Iraq and get wounded in battle. Upon returning home Megan gets separated from Rex and must fight the system to gain the right to adopt him.
Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite wisely uses a spot-on simple and efficient style to relate the compelling and uplifting story while also trusting the poignancy intrinsic to said story to basically do its job without ever forcing the sentiment at any given point in the narrative. Moreover, the tight and trusting relationship between Megan and Rex gives this film a really big, sweet, and moving heart, with Megan learning to become a better and more complete person through both being a Marine and especially because of her love and devotion to Rex.
The arduous training sequences cover in fascinating detail all the work that goes into preparing these dogs for their special services overseas while the scenes of Megan and Rex performing their duties in Iraq are quite tense and harrowing. The sound acting by the capable cast rates as another substantial asset: Eddie Falco as Megan's disapproving mother Jackie, Ramon Rodriguez as the easygoing Cpl. Matt Morales, Common as the hard-nosed, yet compassionate Gunny Martin, Tom Felton as seasoned trainer Sergeant Andrew Dean, and Bradley Whitford as Megan's concerned and supportive father Bob. Kudos are also in order Mark Isham's spare moody score and Lorenzo Senatore's crisp widescreen cinematography. An on the money little winner.
Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite wisely uses a spot-on simple and efficient style to relate the compelling and uplifting story while also trusting the poignancy intrinsic to said story to basically do its job without ever forcing the sentiment at any given point in the narrative. Moreover, the tight and trusting relationship between Megan and Rex gives this film a really big, sweet, and moving heart, with Megan learning to become a better and more complete person through both being a Marine and especially because of her love and devotion to Rex.
The arduous training sequences cover in fascinating detail all the work that goes into preparing these dogs for their special services overseas while the scenes of Megan and Rex performing their duties in Iraq are quite tense and harrowing. The sound acting by the capable cast rates as another substantial asset: Eddie Falco as Megan's disapproving mother Jackie, Ramon Rodriguez as the easygoing Cpl. Matt Morales, Common as the hard-nosed, yet compassionate Gunny Martin, Tom Felton as seasoned trainer Sergeant Andrew Dean, and Bradley Whitford as Megan's concerned and supportive father Bob. Kudos are also in order Mark Isham's spare moody score and Lorenzo Senatore's crisp widescreen cinematography. An on the money little winner.