It’s all there in the poster: Rin Tin Tin goes to Iraq.* A fact-inspired/inspirational story about the real life Megan Leavey, a marine who came from a broken home and found a better life working the (literal) dogs of war; found love (canine/permanent; human/temporary); took an injury with her dog/partner; and fought to recover her health (mental & physical) and the dog they said couldn’t be adjusted for adoption out of the war zone. How is it? Well, quite okay; or is until it goes a bit Hallmark haywire in a too predictable third act. (Dog people won’t mind.) In her first feature, director Gabriela Cowperthwaite (a rare woman given a shot at helming a war story) doesn’t exactly get everything out of the situations (she’s no Kathryn Bigelow!), but also doesn’t push them harder than necessary (she’s no Kathryn Bigelow!). Kata Mara looks awfully delicate to make it thru marine training, while other top players (Edie Falco, Common, Bradley Whitford) are over-qualified for what’s asked of them. But it’s a nice story and a nice film.
READ ALL ABOUT IT: *Now in Lassie’s shadow, RIN TIN TIN was the bigger star in his day, with a real WWI backstory, nicely told by biographer Susan Orlean of ORCHID THIEF/ADAPTATION/’02 fame.
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