Max: The Movie

U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott and Max, a highly trained service dog, on duty

Max is a precision-trained military dog whose handler, U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott, is killed in Afghanistan. The dog is traumatized by the loss of his best friend and can no longer work. He is sent back to the U.S., where the only person Max seems to connect to is Justin, Kyle's teenage brother. Despite issues of his own, Justin reluctantly takes responsibility for Max.

Alongside the Belgian Malinois, Justin finds himself in the middle of a mystery of what happened on the front the day his brother died. As the two unravel the truth, Justin's growing trust in Max helps the military dog revert back to his former heroic self. Along the way they find excitement, danger . . . and a new best friend.

Kyle's younger brother, Justin, and Max learn to trust one another.

The movie may open the door for parents and children to talk about subjects not usually discussed, such as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), the importance of the military, dogs ("unsung heroes") in the military, and how families face tough times.

See the official trailer of "Max" and the featurette, with commentary, Max "Hero Dogs".

"Max" is from Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. Boaz Yakin ("Remember the Titans," "Fresh") wrote and directed the movie, which stars Josh Wiggins ("Hellion") as Justin Wincott, Lauren Graham (TV's "Parenthood") as his mother, and Oscar nominee Thomas Haden Church ("Sideways") as his father. It has been rated PG for action violence, peril, brief language and some thematic elements. The movie opens in theaters June 26, 2015.

For a chance to be featured on official MAX pages, kids can share photos and stories on social media of why their pet is their hero. Use the hashtags #HeroPet and #MaxMovie. And follow MAX on Facebook and on Instagram at @MaxMovie.   #MaxMovie

Thank you, Kenn Bell, of The Dog Files, for inviting bloggers to help spread the word about this movie.