From Joe Peltzer

As Mark Wahlberg continues his quest to dominate the family and faith based film spheres (see The Family Plan, Father Stu, Joe Bell), one sure way to get attention towards your project is to include a dog. His latest Arthur the King, based on the true story of Mikael Lindnord’s befriending of a stray dog during a race in Ecuador (the Dominican Republic in the film), isn’t going to win any awards with a shallow script and choppy filmmaking, but it makes for a pleasant and joyful experience at the movies.

Wahlberg plays Michael Light, a pro adventure racer who puts a team together for one last chance at finishing cross-country trek and cementing his legacy. His portrayal is familiar in many ways, the actor’s roles often blending together with a gruffness and attitude that audiences asked to dive below in order to ultimately root for the character. He’s not unlikeable by any means, but his bullheaded approach to throwing caution to the wind and spending the family savings in order to feel the potential success of winning for once is both understandable and impulsive at the same time. Wahlberg displays a lot of his physical acumen throughout and, once Arthur joins in the mix later in the film (more on that below), the charm starts to emerge.

He is well surrounded by a talented supporting cast, namely Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Ali Suliman (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), and Nathalie Emmanuel (The Invitations) who flesh out his racing team. Liu was the most exciting addition for me, playing a somewhat self-obsessed social media influencer who is at times at odds with Michael. I’m enjoying this different side of Liu, a more jovial set of roles from Ken in Barbie to this. The writing however, continuously laughable and redundant, does make his character a bit annoying; he says “Michael” approximately 3587 times in the first 15 minutes of the film. Suliman here isn’t given much to work with as the older team participant who fights through perceptions of being a liability, but he does deliver some inspiration in fleeting moments. Emmanuel is solid in her role; I am continuously impressed by the way she stands out even as the films she finds herself in aren’t all that great (once again, see The Invitation). One final cast member (of the humans, at least) is Sinister’s Juliet Rylance portraying Michael’s wife, but she is sadly relegated to countless scenes in a sports bra, sitting at a computer tracking her husband’s progression. Thin character writing and development through and through.

Many are going to see Arthur the King due to be drawn in by the dog’s role int the story; the stray dog unofficially joins the team and becomes an internet sensation while also bonding with Michael. Viewers will be surprised, however, to find that we don’t officially meet Arthur until well into the film, aside from a few scenes of him on the streets. His addition is a seductive one and immediately elevates interest in the plot, especially as the race ends and Arthur’s future comes into question. But even with that drama late in the film, there could have been more investment into the core relationship. Everything from the dog’s quick adoration to the way he finds his name is hurried in a film that rushes just about everything.

Still, families will find a lot to love about this quick crowdpleaser from The Family Plan director Simon Cellan Jones, as long as they take it all at face value and don’t ask questions. For instance, Michael is later told that the dog can’t get into a boat with the team because it’s a liability… but the dog is a stray. One may also wonder how the placement of the teams on the leaderboard shifted so dramatically without much explanation. Again, just don’t think too hard. What will result is a breezy story that will entertain with a palatable story and even some intense stunts (and cool GoPro shots). Not everything has to be an Oscar contender, but there is something to be said for providing entertainment such as this.

Rating: 3/5

Arthur the King hits theaters on Friday, March 15th, 2024.

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