Mark Wahlberg is hit or miss with me but I love dogs so I decided to see Arthur the King last night and, for the second night in a row, I needed tissues for another inspirational true story. Michael Light (Wahlberg) is an adventure racer desperate for what might be his last chance to win after failing to complete his last race. He assembles a team for the world championships in the Dominican Republic including Chik (Ali Suliman), who was dropped by his former team after a knee injury, Olivia (Nathalie Emmanuel), who is fighting her own demons, and Leo (Simu Liu), a former teammate stipulated by a sponsor because of his large social media following. As they begin the grueling race, which consists of trekking through dense vegetation, mountain climbing, biking through treacherous terrain, and kayaking, Michael notices an injured stray dog at a transition station and feeds him. The dog, who they name Arthur, begins following them and, at a crucial moment, he saves their lives. Michael bonds with him as he becomes a sort of mascot for the team and this friendship becomes more important than winning. I really enjoyed this movie because it features exciting action, including an incredibly tense scene involving a zip-line, a compelling character seeking redemption for past failures, and an emotional story about a man and a dog who end up saving each other. Wahlberg actually does a great job portraying the bond between his character and Arthur and has undeniable chemistry with Ukai (the dog who plays Arthur), especially in a scene where he has to coax Arthur into a crate. I was very invested in their friendship and I was definitely crying during several emotional moments (I was not the only one). This is not very deep or groundbreaking but it is a feel-good movie that dog lovers are sure to enjoy!
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