Deal with the “Dog Days” of August with “Alpha” and/or “A-X-L”

There are two cinematic “canine” films you might enjoy seeing this month; while “Alpha” introduces boy to wolf (dog), “A-X-L” is the robotic continuation of the relationship.

While Alpha is a nice movie, I didn’t appreciate the flashback to a week before and then repeat of hunt again; also, for a movie about the relationship between the first man and “dog”, Alpha spent more time on the human society and wild scenery. Aka, I would’ve like to have seen more screen time for “Chuck”. :P

Rather than thinking of A-X-L as a combo Benji/Short Circuit, I would suggest it’s a robotic canine Frankenstein where the “monster” is befriended, not abhorred. While predictable in story arc and tropes; boy and “dog”, romantic interest, amoral scientists, rich scion bullying others, etc. the pacing of the film, (from the intro credits evoking man partnering with wolves to K-9 uses of dogs and the A-X-L project as the robotic evolution of the relationship), loss of the A-X-L “asset”, the character of Miles Hill as dirt poor biker without a future, builds steadily to an effective ending that points to a possible A-X-L 2 sequel.

I.e., take your choice of prehistoric or futuristic dogs (or see both!) and spend a couple of hours at the movie theater....

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Deal with the “Dog Days” of August with “Alpha” and/or “A-X-L”