‘Megan Leavey’ Tells Story of an Extraordinary Bond Between Marine and Canine Partner

Sandra Miska

Anyone who has served in the military can tell stories about the incredible friendships he or she formed, and the true-life drama “Megan Leavey” celebrates the bond between two very different soldiers: a woman and her dog. Kate Mara stars as the title character, a young woman who joins the Marines in 2003 in order to escape her dead-end life. After being fired from her latest job for coming to work hung over and not being a people person, she decides to make this drastic life change, leaving behind her dysfunctional mother (Edie Falco) and stepfather (Will Patton), along with some painful memories. Unfortunately, she isn’t able to desert her love for drinking so easily, and after a night out at the bar leads to her being caught relieving herself in public by a superior, she is sent to clean the building that houses the Military Police K-9 unit. It’s there she finally finds the motivation she needs to turn her life around, and so much more.

It’s not long before Megan finds herself connecting with the dogs in a way she fails to do with most humans, particularly Rex, the most aggressive of the bunch. After the officer in charge of the K-9, Gunny Martin (Common), informs her that she needs high marks to become a handler, she gets the kick in the pants to be her best self. After the usual training, she is assigned Rex, who was taken from his previous handler after breaking several bones in the soldier’s hand during a routine exercise. Initially a little freaked out by this daunting task, Megan manages to keep the dog in check by being both firm and soothing. Encouraging her is not only Gunny but also a friendly senior handler, Andrew Dean (played with warmth by Tom Felton in a rare good guy role).

Soon, Megan and her bomb-sniffing buddy are sent to Iraq, and this is where the real challenges begin. Because of her sex, she and Rex are initially limited to checking cars at checkpoints, and amidst all the chaos Megan manages to make a connection with a scared child—only to be admonished for telling the boy her dog’s name, as no one can be trusted in a warzone. It is in this environment that she forms a bond with hunky colleague Matt Morales (Ramón Rodríguez), although ultimately their relationship proves to be more of a temporary thing (Rex turns out to be the one who teaches her what love is). After they are both injured by a buried bomb, Megan and Rex are separated while they recover, and their temporarily being apart is far more torturous to her than any physical trauma. Eventually, Megan decides not to reenlist in the Marines, and the real battle of her life begins. After moving in with her father (Bradley Whitford), she begins a campaign to adopt her best friend, despite a military vet (Geraldine James)|classifying him as unadoptable due to what she perceives as aggressive behavior.

“Megan Leavey” is a touching celebration about the bond between humans and dogs. Gunny puts it best when he says that we put so much emphasis on dogs being a part of our families that we sometimes forget that we mean just as much to them. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite does an excellent job of making a film that is tear-inducing without being manipulative, as the bond between Megan and Rex comes about so naturally. Also helping the film’s authenticity is Mara’s rich but low-key performance. The film also brings to light issues returning vets face readjusting to civilian life, and Megan’s difficulties are compounded by the grief she feels at the loss of her furry companion. Eventually, she takes her fight to the government, but at the end of the day this is anything but a political film— merely a love story between woman and dog.

“Megan Leavey” opens nationwide June 9.