Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero Movie Review (2018) | Logan Lerman | Helena Bonham Carter | Richard Lanni - Upcoming Movies

Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero Movie Details:

Directed by: Richard Lanni

Produced by: Emily Cantrill

Laurent Rodon

Screenplay by: Richard Lanni

Mike Stokey

Music by: Patrick Doyle

Edited by: Mark Solomon

Production company: Fun Academy Motion Pictures

Mikros Image

Distributed by: Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures

Release date April 13, 2018

Country: United Kingdom

United States

Canada

France

Ireland

Language: English

Movie Rating:2.5/5

Movie Review:

Mock his name, make fun of his looks, but Sergeant Stubby, the mangy Boston terrier who fought alongside the Allies during WWI, was a true-blue American soldier. The brave war dog survived 17 battles in the trenches and even once captured a German no, not a German shepherd, but an actual German spy. After the ceasefire, Stubby became a national celebrity, parading around the country, meeting with several presidents and serving as the official mascot for the Georgetown Hoyas. When he died in 1926, the New York Times wrote a half-page obituary about his life.

Not bad for a mutt from New Haven, Conn., whose story has now been immortalized in the feature-length cartoon Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero. Very much a by-the-book affair, this kid-friendly, rather jingoistic account of the Great War and the canine that helped to win it also delves into some of the darker sides of the conflict. There are no talking animals or wink-wink pop culture asides a la Pixar, but rather straightforward dramatic scenes depicting shell-shocked troops in combat, mustard gas attacks and even a few casualties. Unlikely to be a box-office smash, the well-assembled period piece could still appeal to children old enough to grasp its themes, while serving as a valuable educational tool to teach them about a war that ended nearly a century ago.

Narrated by Helena Bonham Carter, Stubby retraces the titular hound’s path to glory, which began in late 1917 when he ran into Robert Conroy (voiced by Logan Lerman), a young private training on the Yale University campus in Connecticut. The stray and the soldier soon became friends, with the latter teaching Stubby how to stand up on his hind legs and salute his superior officers. When Conroy is called to action, Stubby finds a way to follow his master all the way to the battlefields of France.

It’s there that the bulk of the film takes place, with director Richard Lanni (whose credits include several war documentaries) focusing on the details of trench warfare, such as the use of gas masks, the constant rumble of mortar fire and the pools of mud caused by the incessant rainstorms. Amid the chaos, Stubby quickly proves himself to be a worthy combatant, fearlessly dashing across no man’s land, alerting the Allies about incoming shells and saving soldiers in danger.

The script, written by Lanni and military adviser Mike Stokey (The Thin Red Line), also hashes out the stories of Conroy and other soldiers, including a French gourmet and bon vivant, Gaspard (voiced by Gerard Depardieu, of course), who accompanies Conroy on dangerous sorties across enemy lines. Other characters include a German American (Jim Pharr) who suffers prejudice at the hands of his fellow troops and winds up getting badly wounded, and a comic relief character named Olsen (Jordan Beck), whose fate is sealed on the very last day of the war. (The film underlines the fact that although the armistice was signed early on the morning of Nov.11, 1918, the battles went on for several more hours, resulting in many unnecessary deaths.)

Indeed, Stubby hardly shies away from the tough realities of what was known as the War to End All Wars, and it feels both proficiently documented and generally credible, even if it’s hard to believe that a dog did everything you see happening on screen. Animation, which was handled by Technicolor and Mikros Animation in Canada, convincingly pushes the realism factor, with the battle scenes and European backdrops extremely well-rendered. The score by Patrick Doyle (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) also hits the right emotional notes in the right places, especially during a closing sequence where the legend of Stubby finally becomes fact.

Production:

On November 8, 2016, it was announced that Fun Academy Motion Pictures, a production studio based in Columbus, Georgia, will produce an upcoming animated film based on the life of the World War I dog, Sergeant Stubby, in a film titled Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero. The film will be animated by Mikros Image in Montreal and Paris. The film is being directed by Richard Lanni, and will be written by Lanni with Mike Stokey. The film will also involve Bibo Bergeron as head of story. The film will be composed by Patrick Doyle.

Synopsis:

With the War to End All Wars looming, a young Army doughboy Robert Conroy (Logan Lerman) has his life forever changed when a little dog with a stubby tail wanders into camp as the men of the 102nd Infantry Regiment (United States), 26th Infantry Division (United States) train on the parade grounds of Yale University. Conroy gives his new friend a name, a family, and a chance to embark on the adventure that would define a century.

Despite lacking formal military working dog training, Stubby and his human companions find themselves in the trenches of France and on the path to history. French poilu Gaston Baptiste (Gerard Depardieu) befriends the duo and accompanies them along their epic journey through harsh conditions and incredible acts of courage.

As narrated by Robert's sister Margaret (Helena Bonham Carter), Stubby's combat service includes the ability to sniff incoming gas attacks, find wounded allies in No Man's Land, and even catching a German spy in the trenches. Back home, Stubby's exploits are retold in newspapers across the country.

For his valorous actions, Stubby is still recognized today as the most decorated dog in American history and the first canine ever promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the United States Army.