In 1917, young American recruit Robert Conroy (Logan Lerman) is marching with his fellow soldiers when he picks up a stray mutt. The starving little dog refuses to leave him and he decides to call him Stubby. Stubby would continue to follow the young man and his platoon as they get deployed in France. Conroy is befriended by French soldier Gaston Baptiste (Gérard Depardieu). Stubby would save his men time and time again as he becomes a celebrated canine during the war. Margaret (Helena Bonham Carter) is Robert's sister and the narrator.

The characters are likeable and the animation is fine for a lower level movie. It's a based on a real dog and it's able to handle the war stories with a lighter touch for kids. The poison gas story is great and could have served as the big climax. It's set up well with the tear gas demonstration. Emotionally, that's the big turn and the movie could have wrapped up quickly after that. Instead, it's only the midway point. The grenade story is problematic right from when Robert starts playing fetch with Stubby. I knew that's a stumbling block at that moment. The incident does not really make sense. Stubby would probably fetch the grenade back to Robert or Gaston. Overall, the movie is able to handle the dark war stories without devolving into gore and guts. It maintains its sweet nature and would be a fine movie for kids and others.

I unfairly thought it would be obnoxious, corny & vanilla, like a Christian Redbox rental. Instead, it's an authentic & beautifully storied family film, & probably the greatest kid's war movie of all time. It was such a smart idea to not overly personify Stubby, making his incredible story all the more endearing. Even with a noticeable lack-of-budget in the animation & vocal performances, this heartfelt true story is better than anything Dreamworks, Illumination, or Blue Sky have put out in years.

I usually watch violent crime dramas and so this is a radical departure from my usual taste in films. I loved Sgt. Stubby,. The animation is incredible and the story a great tale (or tail) of doggy heroism during WWI. Stubby was a mutt from New Haven, Connecticut who was adopted by a military unit in 1918. America sent troops to France to fight the Germans and the doggy was hidden on a ship. Stubby had an uncanny ability to sense danger and warn his human masters. He also found wounded soldiers and alerted his caretakers as to their location. I have added this movie to my ten best list of 2018.