Mark Wahlberg stars alongside a lovable dog in Arthur the King, a heartwarming, feel-good story about perseverance, conquering doubt and an unbreakable bond.
Arthur the King Movie Review
Directed by Simon Cellan Jones from a screenplay by Michael Brandt, Arthur the King is based on Mikael Lindnord’s memoir “Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home. In it, Wahlberg plays Michael Light (the renamed Lindnord who 10 years ago bonded with a stray dog while racing across Brazil), a man desperate for one last chance to win and prove himself as a formidable adventure racer. When the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic is set to start, Light convinces a sponsor to back him and his team for the race. His team consists of his former teammate turned influencer, Leo (Simu Liu), an old rival with a bum knee, Chik (Ali Suliman), and newcomer Olivia (Nathalie Emmanuel), daughter of a climbing legend. During their trek over varying terrain, Light befriends a stray canine who seems to be as determined to survive his circumstances as Light. Against all odds the dog, named Arthur by Light, follows them on their journey, saving their lives, and helping them all to grow into better humans.
Arthur the King is a heartwarming, feel good film about perseverance, conquering doubt, and the unbreakable bond between humans and dogs. The film tugs at your heartstrings, as dog movies have been doing since the dawn of cinema, but it does so in a sincere way. After all, the true story has already captured the attention of the world, spawning books, an ESPN documentary, and a dog rescue foundation. It’s sentimental and grounded, emotional yet still packs high energy thanks to the formidable trek through the wilds of the D.R. Arthur naturally steals the show but the humans put in solid performances as well, and thankfully the dog does not die.
The strongest element of Arthur the King is its heart. The film takes time to establish Arthur’s backstory, as scenes of this poor wounded and lonely dog are worked in throughout the main storyline. By the time they all cross paths, the audience is without a doubt rooting for this dog and wholly on his side in every situation. In fact in comparison to Arthur, the humans feel underdeveloped although each gets a moment of growth in their story arc. Wahlberg’s Michael is given the most to work with and while being an adventurer with a never give up attitude is right in his wheelhouse, it is his scenes with Arthur that truly standout. Whether they are sharing a freeze-dried meatball (gross) or laying on a street together, the bond he created with the dog off screen shines through beautifully in every encounter. It makes the emotional pull feel genuine rather than forced. You care for this dog because you want to, not because a script is trying to manipulate you into doing so.
Each human on Arthur’s team (yes his team not Michael’s) is racing not just to win but to persevere and work through tough emotions. Olivia, who was reluctant to join up at first, has something major and heartbreaking that pushes her to see the race through to the end. Chik, like Michael, is an aging adventurer with a strong will and mind that sees him fight on despite his bum knee. Even Leo, the closest thing there is to an antagonist for Michael (outside of the daunting terrain), who starts out as a snobby jerk only in it to win it, gets a redemption. Michael himself begins the race with a win at all costs mentality but like the others soon learns the journey is more important than the destination.
These silly humans didn’t learn all this on their own, or even from each other. They learned their lessons thanks to Arthur. His comforting presence and unwavering grit soften their hearts and help them to push forward even when they feel like giving up. After all, if this stray could make it across miles and miles of harsh forest to follow them, they can surely keep going.
The locations are just as much a character as the cast. Michael and his team run, bike, hike, kayak, and climb their way through the lush and perilous terrain. All while dealing with little sleep, dwindling rations of food, and other dangers. On its surface, Arthur the Kingmay come across as just another sweet story about a dog, but it’s also filled with heart-pounding moments as characters dangle from a frayed rope high off the ground or struggle to climb up a sheer rock face. It’s thrilling to watch and I found myself involuntarily holding my breath more than once.
Ultimately, Arthur the King hits the sweet spot for animal films. It balances the sentimental and heart-tugging with thrilling, high-stakes adventures. The cast grounds the story with their various motives and emotions but it really is Arthur who brings them and the audience together. It’s both a great pick for family movie night or for any animal lover in general. And although the dog does not die, I would still bring a few tissues because you’re going to need them.
Arthur the King is now playing in theaters. It is rated PG-13 for some strong language with a runtime of 90 minutes.
