The film's gendered Orientalist narrative uses Iraq, its people and the US-led war there as the backdrop for a story about a white woman soldier finding herself and learning to love through her combat canine.

| Feb 18, 2021

A heartfelt and touching film featuring one of Kate Mara's best performances.

| Original Score: B+ | Jul 7, 2017

Kate Mara is raw and riveting in the title role, a marine who ends up in combat in Iraq with a bomb-sniffing German shepherd. It's a true story that earns your tears.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 19, 2017

Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite's spare handheld camera work comes into its own once the canine teams are out in the field.

| Jun 15, 2017

Cowperthwaite is a documentarian and brings a low-key naturalism to the storytelling, and Mara is excellent in revealing Leavey's growing sense of confidence and purpose.

| Original Score: B+ | Jun 9, 2017

If you're looking for a good cry, Megan Leavey gets the job done, I suppose. But it's a bit like a wet kiss from a puppy.

| Original Score: C+ | Jun 9, 2017

The film - the feature directorial debut for Gabriela Cowperthwaite, whose orcas-in-peril documentary, Blackfish, struck a nerve - treats the handler/dog relationship with respect, not cheap sensationalism.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 9, 2017

With a female-directed, female-driven film this small, criticizing it feels like beating a baby seal. While well intentioned, the human-and-dog interest story lacks narrative drive and star Kate Mara is a limp noodle.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 9, 2017

The emotion in Megan Leavey is not forced. It flows, up and down the leash, just like it's supposed to.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jun 9, 2017

"Megan Leavey" works because it takes Leavey seriously as a character, and it studies her journey through her life and through the Marines before Rex is even a factor in the story.

| Original Score: B+ | Jun 9, 2017

May not be the smoothest piece of filmmaking, but wears its emotions honestly and benefits from offering a look at a rarely explored arena of human-animal relationships: dogs trained for combat.

| Jun 9, 2017

If the conclusion doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you're way too cynical.

| Jun 8, 2017

Megan Leavey isn't flawless in its structure and thematic priorities, but what it has is a worthy tale of commitment and bravery, which satisfyingly wraps up in a touching finale.

| Jun 8, 2017

As it stands, the movie's power never pops off the screen.

| Original Score: C+ | Jun 8, 2017

Kate Mara imbues the role with plenty of grit and pluck but it's Rex, the dog she bonds with, who turns out to be a natural in front of the camera.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 8, 2017

This movie is rarely more than merely competent, but it should stir lovers of justice as well as dog fanciers.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 8, 2017

This is a good story, well told.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 8, 2017

This is an affecting story about loyalty, sacrifice, and the forging of identity.

| Jun 8, 2017

If you have a soft spot for dogs, this is a love story you'll find irresistible.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 8, 2017

This is a film that can't decide if it wants to be a war movie or a rescue dog melodrama and therefore falls into cinematic no-man's/woman's-land.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 8, 2017