Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Megan Leavey’: A Near-Perfect Shaggy Dog Story

Aside from its largely unimaginative title (“Megan and Rex” would have been far better) and the questionable use of a single naughty word, “Megan Leavey” is a family friendly film which will cause everyone with a pulse to weep with both sorrow and joy. You’ll witness someone overcoming personal adversity all while in the company of a domesticated animal with more dedication, honor, and moral fiber than the majority of humans.

Two of the best movies of 2017 were low-budget character studies with female leads, which slightly hindered their respective audience appeal because of the inclusion of a vulgar word. As allowed by the MPAA, every PG-13 movie can use this particular word exactly once and as with “Gifted” (recently reviewed here); “Megan Leavey” does so without warrant, reason, or serving any useful purpose.

Kate Mara (C) as Meagan Leavey in "Meagan Leavey." Bleecker Street

Bottomed Out

Megan (Kate Mara) is a New York woman with zero direction in life, who, as the film opens, gets fired from a menial job for showing up to work too often while hung-over. Her relationships with her well-intended mother Jackie (Edie Falco) and lout of a stepfather Jim (Will Patton) also leave a lot to be desired. She’s one step away from offing herself and, in a last-ditch attempt at finding redemption, she chooses to enlist in the Marines.

In a manner not unlike that seen in “Private Benjamin” or “An Officer and a Gentleman,” Megan almost immediately regrets her decision until she lays eyes on Rex, a German shepherd being trained to sniff out bombs in war zones. Rex is highly attuned and is groomed to recognize both fear and aggressiveness (read: terroristic intent) and senses the former in Megan. After a series of events involving another handler and her commanding officer Massey (Common), Megan is afforded the opportunity to partner with Rex.

Respects American Veterans

At this point, we’re practically halfway through the almost two-hour film and get the feeling that director Gabriela Cowperthwaite and her four screenwriters might just be treading water. In retrospect, the filmmakers deftly lay the groundwork for an emotionally draining second half which not only brings a newfound perspective to modern warfare but also gives us insight into the current, totally avoidable red-tape roadblocks regarding veteran’s affairs and stateside life after military service.

Kate Mara as Meagan Leavey and Rex in "Meagan Leavey." Bleecker Street

This was an interesting and logical follow up for Cowperthwaite, whose “Blackfish” was a brilliant documentary exploring the relationship between zoo personnel and Orca whales. While the tone of that film was largely unfavorable—it was firmly anti-animal captivity—the exact opposite is the case in “Megan Leavey,” although some animal rights activists might argue otherwise. What Cowperthwaite and the writers make beyond clear is the care and respect service animals receive from armed forces personnel while also pointing out the frequent, downright idiocy of the civilian-controlled military bureaucracy.

Staunchly Apolitical

The filmmakers also get high marks for steadfastly avoiding politics, the usual ham-handed stylistic flourishes and emotional manipulation found in most war films in general and virtually all of the ones set in Afghanistan and Iraq, in particular. This is an instance where “less is more” is exactly that and is far more effective than the relentless assault on the senses we get from similarly themed productions.

Depending on your own interpretation, “Megan Leavey” might not even qualify as a “war movie” as less than 20 per cent of the running time involves battle scenes. In taking a page from director Kathryn Bigelow’s multiple Oscar-winning “The Hurt Locker,” the filmmakers put the bulk of their focus on what happens after the dust has cleared when soldiers return home and have difficulty readjusting to life.

Again, without hammering us over the head, the movie points out the downright boneheaded shortsightedness of people in positions of power, and how, with very little effort, these same folks could exponentially improve the lives of the selfless young people who, without thanks, put their lives on the line for us every day.

Non-Spoiler Alerts

Time now for a few non-spoiler alerts in case you want to watch the movie with your teen children or anyone easily rattled. First, unless your progeny is mature beyond their years and emotionally unflappable, viewing would not be recommendable for anyone under the age of 10.

The aforementioned vulgarity drops during a nighttime dinner scene between Yankee fan Megan and fellow soldier Matt Morales (Ramon Rodriguez), a fellow New Yorker whose love of the Mets provides mostly friendly reoccurring kibitzing.

The most intense scene in the movie takes place at about the 80-minute mark while Megan and Rex are identifying and marking buried IED bombs. When the action switches over to slow motion: brace yourself. That’s about all that can be revealed without totally giving everything away.

As with “Gifted,” “Megan Leavey” is the type of movie parents say they want but, when actually right before them and they see tough things happening, they suddenly find something else for the kids to do. The film teaches, educates, enlightens, and entertains, and does so in a straightforward manner while imparting lessons on personal responsibility and sacrifice. Work hard, stay focused, believe in a noble cause and it’s likely you will succeed.

The real Meagan Leavey and Rex on whose life "Meagan Leavey" was based. Bleecker Street

Just when you think it will break it, “Megan Leavey” will instead completely melt your heart.

‘Megan Leavey’ Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite Stars: Kate Mara, Edie Falco, Common, Ramon Rodriguez, Bradley Whitford, Will Patton Running Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 Release Date: June 9, 2017 Rating: 4.5 out of 5