Movie Review: ‘Arthur the King’

To lose a race is depressing. To not even reach the finish line is debilitating. Mikael (Mark Wahlberg) is the leader of a four-man adventure racing team. Their race follows a prescribed 430-mile route. There are places along the way where teams can strike out on their own, then return to the specified trail or a rest station. They race on bikes, in kayaks, hike/climb on foot and are allowed to self-navigate. The contests are held worldwide – this one is in Ecuador.

Well into the race, Mikael guides his team off route on what he thinks to be a shortcut. They’re soon mired in ankle-deep mud. A team member takes a photo of him dragging his kayak through the mud. The photo hits the internet and his days as an adventure racer are over.

Two years later, restless in a boring job, Mikael decides to try just once more to win the world championship. The upcoming 2018 race is in the Dominican Republic. His best bet for participating in it is to first collect a team and then present their names to prospective sponsors. With his questionable reputation, neither task is easy – he eventually prevails.

With their modest stipend the four-member team leave for the ten-day race beginning in Santo Domingo. Wandering the streets of this capital city is a homeless dog. He scavenges trash cans, sleeps in narrow alleys and is frequently chased by more aggressive alpha male dogs. He leaves the city.

Acclimation time for preparing to race in a tropical rainforest would normally be 4 weeks – Mikael’s group has only four days. The race begins on foot with teams from all over the world crowded together at the starting line. They soon spread out over a long human column. The participants’ maps show designated places to rest where containers of snacks and packets of food and bottled water await.

While nibbling on packaged meatballs at one such location, Mikael notices a stray dog watching him from the edge of the forest. Initially the dog rejects the offer of a meatball, but after some serious eye contact between the two, he finally accepts one – then a second. The race continues.

The four set out on the next arduous lap of the race. Greeting them at the rest station that evening is the dog who again stares into Mikael’s eyes. The dog follows them around the camp, lying a short distance away when they rest. When it’s time to continue the race their new four-legged friend joins them. En route, one team member sets out to find a new path – the dog gets in his way and starts barking.

Cautiously looking beyond the barking dog, Mikael finds a steep cliff over which they might have all fallen had they not been warned. So touched by the dog’s intervention, Mikael decides to name him Arthur (Ukai) and make him a team member.

The next few days place Mikael’s team hours ahead of the others. When they cross the finish line to cheering crowds, Arthur collapses. With no veterinarian in the vicinity, Arthur is taken to Santo Domingo where he is diagnosed with infections caused by his former street life. The doctor fills up a syringe, places it on the examining table and leaves the room so Mikael and Arthur can have a final moment together.

Directed by Simon Cellan Jones (Credits; The Family Plan, The Diplomat) “Arthur the King” runs 90 minutes and is a “should see” for an amazing true story of the relationship between man and animal. The story is also a thrilling glimpse into this adventure racing sport. “The Arthur Foundation” was created to help street dogs.