Max 2: White House Hero – Blu-ray Review

“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.”

There’s a lot going on in Max 2: White House Hero. It’s a dog movie, a precocious kid movie, a political intrigue movie, and a political satire all rolled into one. And it’s family friendly on top of all of that! Max, the star of the film, was first seen in 2015’s Max about a military dog whose adopted by the family of one of the soldiers her assisted in Afghanistan. The sequel finds Max on a new mission as a White House Secret Service dog who quickly becomes the playmate and protector of the First Son.

You see, the Russians are coming to the White House (the movie is rather timely and topical) to discuss a new nuclear arms treaty between the two countries. The Russian President, Vladamir Bragov, brings along his young daughter Alex (Francesca Capaldi) who befriends First Son TJ (Zane Austin).

But something is amiss; in fact, there’s a sinister plot afoot that Alex, TJ, and Max uncover while the adults are completely oblivious to the badness on the horizon. Can Max and the kids prevent an international incident before it’s too late?

I can honestly say that I enjoyed this movie! It had its moments of action and suspense, it was well-acted, and the dog is pretty awesome. Directed by Brian Levant (Jingle All the Way, Beethoven), Max 2: White House Hero is a kid-friendly, family friendly movie that the whole family can enjoy together.

The Blu-ray includes two fast-paced and entertaining featurettes:

Kids on the Case: Making of Max 2

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film with Francesca Capaldi and Zane Austin.

Max 2: A Ruff Life

It took four dogs to bring Max to the screen. See what it takes to train a dog for a movie like Max 2!

As I said above, I had a good time watching this movie. It’s upbeat, fun, and quite entertaining. I highly recommend it for family movie night!

Max 2: White House Hero is a available now on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Download!

What’s your favorite dog movie? Kid’s movie? Political satire? Leave a comment and let us know!

Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love – Movie Review

“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the DVD I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.”

Without question, Dolly Parton is one of the most prolific and iconic country-music and pop culture icons of our time. Her massive body of work spans decades, ranging from film, TV, and, of course, music. Parton’s life story is as interesting and engaging as the songs she writes and performs and one such story from her childhood is told in Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.

A follow-up to the film Coat of Many Colors, Circle of Love joins Dolly (Alyvia Alyn Lind) and her family during another Christmas season filled with laughter, heartache, and miracles. All young Dolly wants is a white Christmas…and shiny red shoes…and sing on the road with her Uncle…and to play the Virgin Mary in the school Christmas pageant. It’s a big list for a girl who dreams big, but sometimes her dreams – and her mouth – cause more chaos than expected.

Circle of Love is a wonderful, enchanting, and touching Christmas film that is definitely for the whole family. Dolly Parton appears and the beginning and end of the film from Dollywood and even makes a special guest appearance in the film. Along with the talented child cast, Rick Schroder (24, NYPD Blue), Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland, CMA Country Christmas), Gerald McRaney (Major Dad, Mike & Molly), and Cameron Jones (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) do a fantastic job delivering humor and heart that is quality viewing for the whole family. I will definitely add Coat of Many Colors to my Christmas movie viewing list!

Directed by Stephen Herek, whose impressive directing credits include Coat of Many Colors, 101 Dalmatians, Mr. Holland’s Opus, and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, the film is a compelling narrative that brings sorrow and joy in just the right doses. Did I cry while watching this film? Yes. Yes, I did. And you will, too, so don’t even deny it!

And, of course, the film offers up plenty of great Dolly Parton music throughout! It’s fantastic!

I highly, highly recommend Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love! It’s quality viewing for the whole family!

Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love is available NOW on DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital Download.

Fred Claus: Heartfelt Holiday Hilarity

Fred Claus
Warner Bros. Pictures/Silver Pictures
Starring Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Rachel Weisz, and Kathy Bates
Rated PG for Mild Language and Some Rude Humor
Running Time = 115 minutes

Vince and Paul play brothers in this family-friendly comedy
Vince and Paul play brothers in this family-friendly comedy

Christmas movies are a special breed of animal. Certain things are expected in a Christmas film in order to make it effective and enjoyable. We all are familiar with the classics: It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Continue reading “Fred Claus: Heartfelt Holiday Hilarity”