It's about a gallant dog, two 12-year-old offspring of world leaders, spies, and a gathering of bumbling adults. Number of permitted concurrent streams will vary based on the terms of your subscription. But the chief's troubles have just begun. An overweight woman is the butt of humor. Director: Starring: , , , , » Max 2: White House Hero Blu-ray Review It's a Dog's Life in the Oval Office Reviewed by , May 31, 2017 As I said in the 2015 family feature Max, dogs are always popular in movies, which is no doubt why the film did well enough on a modest production budget to spawn a sequel.
How has the treatment of animals changed over the decades? Filling in as a Secret Service dog for President Bennett , Max immediately becomes attached to the American leader's son, T. The rafting sequence—filmed, as the cast and crew assure us in the extras, in a real river—are effectively realistic. . Several sequences find both the dog and the kids in physical danger spoiler alerts : kidnapping attempts by masked hoodlums, a near drowning in river rapids, children held captive, several narrow escapes, and lots of brave dog action. Parents are loving and well-meaning but, in the tradition of such stories, mostly clueless. Find an example of this in your own experience.
Director Brian Levant specializes in helming this sort of frivolity, although he usually has a familiar star that he can humiliate with physical gags Arnold Schwarzenegger in , Ice Cube in , or Jackie Chan in. When a foreign leader arrives with his precocious daughter, Alex, tensions arise between both countries. Bucking Warner's recent trend of mastering lesser films at high average bitrates e. There's nothing remarkable about Max 2's 5. For more about Max 2: White House Hero and the Max 2: White House Hero Blu-ray release, see published by Michael Reuben on May 31, 2017 where this Blu-ray release scored 3. But the story always comes back to Max, because, like I said, dogs are popular in movies. River-rafting sequence in which kids are in danger after boat overturns.
As for Max 2, it's a harmless diversion, but mostly an excuse for the canine cast to strut their stuff. Pricing, channels, features, content, and compatible devices subject to change. Please review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. When the President's Russian counterpart arrives for a strategic arms-negotiation session with his daughter Alexandra Francesca Angelucci Capaldi in tow, the kids -- and, of course, Max -- find new and interesting ways to make mischief, much to the consternation of the U. Streaming content may count against your data usage.
Suspense and several action sequences; kids and dog in peril. This is not suitable for kids who aren't comfortable with reveal vs. It has the fidelity and dynamic range one expects from a contemporary production backed by a major studio, and the eventful sequences—e. Max 2 tries something similar with pictures of past U. How do cultural differences often set up barriers that separate people? Two young leading characters, while privileged and indulged, are adventurous, bright, and open to new experiences. In an obvious choice, the film's palette is dominated by variations of red, white and blue. Espionage and danger are afoot.
There also are some sad moments when the kids are forcibly separated from their canine friend. Randy Edelman, whose knack for mixing comedy with adventure has complemented such films as , supplied the reassuringly upbeat orchestral score. If you don't expect logic, a reasonable facsimile of political life, or proficient filmmaking, Max's exploits and two engaging young actors keep this routine story moving along at a brisk pace. Levant probably got the assignment on the strength of his success directing canines in , and he stages the scenes capably and keeps the action moving. Historical photographs of American presidents and their canine pets are a treat.
Zane Austin , a kid who hasn't quite adjusted to life in a bubble. Stay around for Max 2: White House Hero's end credits. Dialogue is clearly rendered, along with Max's repertoire of barks, whines and other canine vocalizations. Dog is menaced with knife, is kicked at, struggles with spy. Girl is trapped in a careening car. Conventional, harmless, and ultimately forgettable, this Max adventure doesn't meet the standards set by the original. If you can't spot the chief baddie immediately, you haven't seen enough movies.
Parents need to know that Max 2: White House Hero is the second movie, the first of which told the story of a brave military dog. Going into Max 2: White House Hero, my biggest question was how the writers manage to get the titular hound away from its adopted family for a new adventure in, of all places, the White House. The compressionist has capably allocated the bit budget between the film's action sequences and its quiet scenes of dialogue, for an acceptable encode. The fine detail of the re-created White House decor is readily visible, as are the rocks and vegetation at the Vancouver locations that double for Camp David. Max routinely saves the day, and in the end the evil plot is exposed and defeated. Max 2: White House Hero 2017 Max 2: White House Hero Blu-ray delivers stunning video and great audio in this fan-pleasing Blu-ray release Hero dog Max is now in Washington, D.
Middle-graders and tweens should respond to the likable kids as they get into trouble, outsmart their parents, and ultimately save the world from some of the silliest, most hopelessly inept bad guys ever. Compatible device and high-speed, broadband Internet connection required. Synopsis Max is assigned to the White House while Charlie, the secret service dog, is on maternity leave. Kyle Wincott in combat is all healed up. Putin's presence is presumably an acknowledgment that the film's Russian president is partly based on him, with his love of horseback riding and his affinity for displays of physical prowess, but the image strikes a sour note.