When Miles (Alex Neustaedter) accidentally stumbles upon a robotic dog, he befriends the mechanical canine even though he knows that someone from the military will likely come looking for the high-tech creature.
Release date August 24, 2018
Violence C+ Sexual Content B+ Profanity B+ Substance Use B-Why is A.X.L. rated PG? The MPAA rated A.X.L. PG for sci-fi action/peril, suggestive material, thematic elements and some language.
Run Time: 100 minutes
Animatronic dog meets bullied boy in A.X.L. (pronounced “axel”), a film that attempts a technological upgrade on the old “boy-and-his-dog” premise.
A day of dirt biking in the hills leaves Miles (Alex Neustaedter) abandoned by his “friend” Sam (Alex MacNicoll) and his group of cronies. Yet this new-kid-in-town and high school senior isn’t nearly as fazed as I would be when this unexpected alone time leads to the discovery of a giant, robotic Rottweiler stashed in an abandoned shipping container. Not smart enough to let sleeping dogs lie, Miles manages to awaken the mechanical mutt who then tears after him, believing the boy to be an enemy. Fortunately Mile’s driving and stunting abilities are good enough to trick A.X.L. (credited as being played by Dorian Kingi – I’m assuming for motion capture animation) into sailing off a cliff, and landing in a sad mess of twisted metal.
Even after having his life endangered, Miles is determined to patch this newfound pooch back together. Using some tools, convenient supplied by A.X.L. himself, the computer-programed pup soon boots up again. Acknowledging the teen’s kindness, A.X.L. moves his rescuer’s profile into the “friend” folder. Eventually, the pair becomes even more bonded through a technological thumbprint device (essentially A.X.L.‘s ignition key) that makes the chrome canine wholly obedient to Mile’s commands.
Meanwhile, another school pal named Sara (Becky G) arrives on the scene. Recognizing Miles’ pet as a very expensive science experiment, she suggests returning the stray to some higher authority. But Miles refuses because he believes the former owner will mistreat the life-like machine.
What Miles and Sara don’t know is that A.X.L.‘s creator, Andric (Dominic Rains), is watching the entire relationship unfold through cameras built into the robot’s eyes. Happy to have a pair of “guinea pigs” to test the device’s ability to interact with humans, the military contractor ignores the possibility of the public harm A.X.L. might do. And that prospect becomes more likely when Sam returns to see what Sara and Miles are up to.
The best part of this movie is the visual creation of A.X.L. and the concept of designing an artificial animal for the purpose of protection. Also appreciated are the relatively few content concerns. A handful of mild profanities (including a Christian term of deity), some physical skirmishes (with brief blood seen) and revealing female clothing round up the greatest issues.
On the “dog” side, it seems most of this film’s apparently thin budget was spent on visual effects. While bringing A.X.L. to life is well done, that accomplishment comes at the sacrifice of strong performances and a solid story. Some of the other nuts and bolts of this production aren’t exactly tight either.
If you’re in the 8 to 12-year-old crowd, A.X.L. will likely offer a fun adventure. If not, it may just feel like you’re watching a hybrid hound begging for a sequel.
Directed by Oliver Daly. Starring Thomas Jane, Becky G, Alex Neustaedter. Running time: 100 minutes. Theatrical release August 24, 2018. Updated January 1, 2019
Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.