(Flash Review)Based on the true story of Meagan Leavey and her trusty bomb locating dog Max. This is more than a typical American patriotic war movie, it is a movie for dog lovers. You follow the life of how Meagan got into service, into the bomb locating K9 unit and what events lead her to become so attached to her dog partner. It had a nice buildup with fairly engaging drama and battle scenes and light romantic sub story, all with quality production value. Most importantly seeing how much effort she put in trying to take ownership of the dog after they both put in their time was basically the 3rd act and arguably was rushed of underdeveloped at times. Another moderately interesting and unique story in the war/drama category.

I generalized what I write below, in hopes of avoiding spoilers. If you haven't seen this movie yet, I hope this will help you see the story behind the story.This is not an action movie, or a dog movie, or a documentary. It is a somewhat fictionalized story of an imperfect young woman who learned to be a successful marine though her devotion to a bomb-sniffing german shepard. The movie accomplishes THIS mission, which may not be what spectacle junkies or accuracy fanatics demand.Dogs are not actors; imagine the tricks, cleverness, and patience required by the entire cast, crew, writers, and dog trainer to depict a dog seemingly devoted to actor Kate Mara. Viewers should be patient too; this is the only way we can experience this story on a screen. Appreciate the craft, and imagine the difficulty. Imagine the risk; if that particular dog got hurt, this expensive production might have been cancelled.Accuracy? Some reviews complain that explosions don't throw bodies without dismemberment. The actual incident (you can read about it) involved deeply buried explosives; that reduces shear forces. In 99% of cases, the victims would be killed and shredded, end of story. This story isn't about the other 99 whose stories ended in an explosion, but we should never forget them. We are lucky that Ms. Leavey survived to tell her story; we can only imagine the others, and mourn them, and grieve with their survivors.The settings portray Yankee Stadium and suburban New York, Camp Pendleton, and multiple locations in Iraq. The actual locations were in the American south and in Spain. One urban scene ("Baghdad?") reminds me of urban action scenes in 2016's "Guernica". The sets and crew must have been enormously expensive - the credits list thousands of participants. Viewers who demand "more authenticity" aren't going to get it at this price.I watched a DVD from the library. I experienced what I hoped to; a little more understanding of what motivates imperfect young women to become heroic warriors - without shedding all their imperfections. This will help me relate to the many ex-marines in my life.Hollywood rarely produces movies like this; it is too expensive, the risks are too high, and most audiences demand mindless fantasy, not complex characters. Those of us who appreciate the craft and the difficulties involved should support efforts like this movie, and thank the team for the risks they took and the money they spent to make it. I've seen it once "for free", but I may buy the DVD anyway, to say "thank you" and "mission accomplished".For myself, I would rate this a "10", but these reviews are to guide you, dear reader, and many of you will NOT find what you are looking for. I hope this review helps more people like me find and appreciate this movie for what it is. Megan Leavey herself may have began as a "4" human being, but this movie shows how she became a "10".

God, thanks to the man from neighboring house, who told me "Just watch this movie", when we met on the street walking our dogs; thanks to all the people who made this movie, it's great. And thanks to Megan Leavey and Rex. You are the greatest.

Megan Leavey is a biographical war drama film starring Kate Mara. Based on the true story of Corporal Megan Leavey and her bomb sniffer dog Rex, it is a humble depiction of one's love and loyalty for their animal companion during times of war and the desire to find their place in society.After signing up for the US Marines, corporal Megan Leavey (Kate Mara) is paired with a bomb sniffing dog named Rex. Initially, Rex is hostile and aggressive toward any other marine who trains with him, but over time he and Megan form a special bond with one another and he eventually saves her life when the two are deployed to Iraq.The film is respectful to its subject matter and never feels too sappy or sentimental. It successfully shows that not only are humans risking their lives out in the Middle East but also the specially-trained dogs as well. Animal lovers will certainly be moved by the bravery of Rex as he risks being blown up from sniffing for explosives out in the Iraqi desert. Kate Mara gives a solid, believable performance in the title role, and her bonding scenes with Rex always feel genuine. The one major issue I have is that the film does follow the typical formulaic plot of someone sharing a bond with an animal that no one else is able to. However, considering this is based on a true story, it is excusable for the most part.I rate it 7.5/10