ARTHUR THE KING (2024) review

written by: Michael Brandt
produced by: Tucker Tooley, Mark Canton, Courtney Solomon, Tessa Tooley, Mark Wahlberg & Stephen Levinson
directed by: Simon Cellan Jones
rated: PG-13 (for some strong language)
runtime: 90 min.
U.S. release date: March 15, 2024

Out of all the trailers that have recently occupied the twenty or so minutes before a movie begins in movie theaters, “Arthur the King” has been shown the most and thus deemed the most annoying. Truly. Not only is it one of those trailers that show just about every beat of the plot, but it also has Mark Wahlberg in one of those “inspirational, based on a true story” roles, only here he shares the screen with a dog. That’s a step up from talking to a tree in “The Happening.” Because Lionsgate ran the trailer ad nauseum, it had the opposite intended effect on me – it made me care less if I saw it. Still, I’m a sucker for survival/adventure stories and dogs. For the most part, “Arthur the King” offers some inspiring, family-friendly viewing, but the movie gets drenched in its own sentimental and sappy perspiration too often.

Wahlberg stars as Michael Light, a man determined to lead a winning team in the competitive sport of Adventure Racing after several failed attempts. His stubbornness and prideful ego have prevented him from seeing areas he needs to work on, which hijacks his team’s success. As the movie opens, we witness his team having to end their race in Costa Rica early because Michael wouldn’t listen to his teammate Leo (Simu Liu), resulting in the quartet of athletes getting stuck in the mud. His lack of leadership doesn’t humble Michael; instead, he is humiliated when Leo immortalizes the moment on social media.

A couple of years later, Michael’s pride rears its ugly head again. This time, we see it surface not on the race course but back at his Colorado home, which he shares with his wife, Helena (Juliet Rylance), and their young daughter, Ruby (Cece Valentina). We catch him one morning heading off to work for his father’s (Paul Guilfoyle) real estate business. Helena asks him if he will wear the shirt, and we later learn she’s referring to the polo shirt with his father’s business stitched on it. It turns out Michael is embarrassed to wear it because it’s not his name on the shirt. Apparently, he’s convinced he hasn’t done anything with his life because he’s never returned from a race with a first-place medal. In short, he’s still focused on himself and hasn’t learned any lesson in humility.

Ironically, Helena is also a runner but isn’t as consumed as Michael is with winning. He clearly can’t see that she doesn’t feel incomplete without placing first. Still, he says things to her like, “Runners need to run”, and knowing he’s just going to mope around, she supports Michael’s decision to do one more race. “This is it,” he says, but we get the feeling he’s said that before.

Michael sets out to build a new four-person team to compete in the 2018 Adventure Racing World Series in the Dominican Republic and get sponsors to shell out money. The 435-mile trek across the dense terrain of the DR lasts 10 days and involves running, climbing, paddling, and ziplining through rugged terrain. It requires four athletes working fluidly as one, relying on each other and making quick and challenging decisions. Since Michael doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to leading a team due to his selfishness, who would possibly want to join his latest endeavor, much less fund it?

“Arthur the King” provides a requisite “we’re getting the band back together” montage. We follow Michael as he recruits a trio of athletes and as he goes before a counsel from Broadrail (think a very specified North Face type company focusing on adventure racing) with his lawyer. He heads to the California coast, where he meets Chik (Ali Suliman) an experienced racing navigator with a bad knee. Michael asks him how his knee is, and Chik tells him not to worry, as we know that will factor in later on. When he tracks down rock climbing superstar Olivia (Nathalie Emmanuel), she is training under the watchful eye of her father (who was a reputable climber himself). She winds up accepting Michael’s invitation solely to please her father. It’s the Broadrail counsel who is adamant that Michael offer Leo the last spot since the narcissistic athlete spends his time as a social media star getting all the hits with a jillion followers. Michael relents to Broadrail and basically begs Leo to join him. Leo agrees, but only after Michael admits he was wrong in Costa Rica. Anyone can see that Michael’s admission isn’t from the heart since he’ll do anything to get a team together.

At this point, it’s clear that the screenplay by Michael Brandt (loosely adapting the 2016 memoir Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home by Mikael Lindnord) isn’t going to carve out any time for Wahlberg’s Michael to get a reality check and realize that no one is joining him because he’s inspirational or charismatic. In fact, apart from Leo and his dopamine fix for social media hits, it’s not really clear why any of them join Michael. None of them have a longstanding tight connection to him, and, seeing how the character of Michael is written and portrayed, it’s easy to see why.

That’s okay, though, since getting on board with the titular character is easier anyway. Arthur is the name Michael gives a resilient street dog the foursome finds early on in the race. Jones and cinematographer Jacques Jouffret (who also lensed Wahlberg in “Joe Bell” and “Father Stu”) introduce this dog (played by canine actor Ukai) early on, fending for himself on the streets of Santa Domingo. Michael notices the grungy dog during a rest stop along the course, and the dog gladly gobbles his freeze-dried meatball snacks. Hours go by, and we follow Michael’s team, who take shortcuts that require free climbing and ziplining with their bicycles to gain time. That’s all impressive, but the most miraculous thing is that this dog actually catches up with them. He earns his name by becoming such a stalwart companion and fierce protector of the team and ultimately takes an inseparable fifth spot on the team.

It’s hard to say what is actually true in this “based on a true story.” There are bound to be some deviations from reality. One that is certain is that this was a Swedish team and the race was in Ecuador, where they found the dog. We do no know if Mikael Lindnord was as selfish and prideful as Michael Light or if the real Arthur inadvertently taught Mikael something about perseverance, commitment, and integrity.

That’s what ultimately happens during the third act of “Arthur the King”, when Michael must make some selfless decisions regarding the fate of his canine companion as he falls gravely ill. It’s foreign territory for Michael. Some of these scenes between Wahlberg and Ukai are quite saccharine, but then again, it’s kind of what we expect. Still, amid all the impressive footage of Adventure Racing, we get and all the setbacks the team experiences, what’s most captivating about this story is this dog’s endurance.

Surprisingly, there’s a whole subgenre of “based on a true story” dramas that follow dogs in peril or survival situations. These dogs often perform heroic and/or sacrificial deeds that save a human or bring a human couple together. This movie was made three years ago. While awaiting a release date, Wahlberg and director Simon Cellan Jones made another movie together, “The Family Plan,” which went straight to Apple TV+ back in December.

I’m not sure why “Arthur the King” had a longer shelf life, but I can attest that this movie is much better than that one. “Arthur the King” isn’t necessarily amazing, and you can bet there are photos and clips of man’s best friend hanging with Mikael and his family. But at least this is another option for families seeking a movie theater experience.

RATING: **1/2