I had no idea that Arthur the King was based on a true story! All I knew about this movie was that it had a dog in it and Mark Wahlberg, two things that I really like. I have to say, I am impressed that Mark Wahlberg is doing more than his usual action movie stuff these days, he is actually a way better actor than people give him credit for and he can do drama just as well as comedy and action.
How to Download Arthur the King
Arthur the King was released on March 15, 2024. You can expect to be able to download or stream the film from a digital platform about two months later. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you like Mark Wahlberg check him out in Ted or Instant Family.
The Movie Review
A Star-Studded Cast Ventures Into the Wild
As well as Mark Wahlberg, we also have Simu Liu who I also really enjoy. Plus, we cannot overlook the fact that Bear Grylls is in this movie and that he is playing himself which is kind of awesome. As I said, I did not know this was a true story so I had no idea where this was going to go. I also did not know that “adventure racing” was a thing and I have come to the conclusion that these people are super fit, super brave, and freaking nuts!
The Harrowing Journey of Michael Light and His Team
The plot of Arthur the King was pretty interesting. Our main character is a man called Michael Light (Mark Wahlberg) and he is an “adventure racer” who ends up in a terrible situation in a race that sees his team perform really badly. Michael decides that he wants to give it another shot and a few years later, he is ready to take part in another adventure race.
Challenges and Team Dynamics in the Dominican Republic
Michael puts together his team which consists of a climber called Olivia and an experienced racer called Chiki who is not exactly in the best shape, but they know what they are doing. Michael has a sponsor and this sponsor insists that another person join the team, Leo. Leo is played by Simu Lei and he was on the last team of Michaels that did not do so well. Michael is not happy about this, but the sponsor is insistent.
The Unlikely Hero: Arthur Joins the Race
This adventure race is over 400 miles long through the brutal terrain that the Dominican Republic has to offer! It is a real test of skill, fitness, and perseverance in order to get through it. I love the setting and the movie does an amazing job of showcasing just how hard a task it is these athletes have before them.
The twist of Arthur the King is that the team comes across a stray dog and this dog follows them on their adventure. They try to get rid of him at first, but they take a liking to him as he is such a good dog and Arthur becomes part of the team! Arthur is an awesome dog and he is impossible not to love! I was actually scared to death about what would happen to Arthur and that did have me on edge as the movie drew to a close.
Emotional Journey and Cinematic Gem
If you already knew what this story was, you knew how it all ended. I did not so to say this movie pulled on my emotional strings in every regard is a massive understatement. I guess, you could say that the movie is rather predictable and that would be fair. However, I would say that it is a fun movie that tugs on the heartstrings, but it also has a lot of exciting moments in it. This could end up being one of the hidden gems of 2024 so I highly recommend you give it a chance.
