Max

There’s nothing about the titular canine that dooms Max, although the humans surrounding him are another story.

In fact, the film suggests a worthwhile opportunity to salute military dogs who assist their soldiers both on the battlefield and the home front. Yet unfortunately it bogs down in sentimentality and melodramatic contrivances that reduce its emotional impact.

The story takes place in East Texas, where a family is mourning the loss of Kyle (Robbie Amell), a Marine killed in Afghanistan. With a wedge driven between Kyle’s stubborn and ill-tempered father (Thomas Haden Church) — also a former Marine — and his disenfranchised younger brother, Justin (Josh Wiggins), his mother (Lauren Graham) pushes to adopt Max, a Belgian Malinois who was Kyle’s primary companion overseas.

It’s the last chance for Max, whose other military handlers have given up on his nasty temperament. Yet he seems eager to bond with Justin, a surly teenager whose innocent adventures consist of video games, dirt-bike races with friends, and an attraction to a feisty new girl (Mia Xitlali) in the neighborhood.

The first half of Max is easily its best, showing the dog’s loyalty by instinctually bonding with Justin and trying to heal the family’s unspoken psychological wounds, and also humanely conveying the canine’s post-traumatic stress from his own wartime experiences.

Sure, there are heavy-handed tendencies, and an overbearing music score that aggressively yanks at the heartstrings. However, it’s refreshing to see a boy-and-his-dog story that’s not overloaded with cute shots of the pooch and his slapstick antics. Rather, Max is generally mean and rebellious, certainly more vicious than cuddly.

Then things fly off the rails in bizarre fashion, as the disingenuous screenplay by director Boaz Yakin (Remember the Titans) and Shelton Lettich — a frequent Jean-Claude Van Damme collaborator — loses its focus.

What started as a heartfelt effort to pay tribute to our four-legged battlefield heroes shifts its attention to a violent crime thriller involving illegal weapons trading and an ex-Marine (Luke Kleintank) with an ax to grind against Max, of all things. It sets up a ridiculous scenario for Max to save the day for Justin and his family.

So while there might be good intentions, the uneven performances and a woeful lack of subtlety and surprise give Max more bark than bite.

Rated PG, 111 minutes.