ARTHUR THE KING -- Putting the “Dog” in Dogwater

Review by Adam Donato

Certain actors just play themselves in every single movie. They've cultivated an image for themselves that can seldom ever be transcended. Mark Wahlberg has given some great performances in his career. Boogie Nights, The Departed, and The Happening are all unforgettable roles for Wahlberg. Way more often than not, he's playing more or less the same dude. In Arthur the King, Wahlberg plays himself if he were a racer. The film tells the true story of Mikael Lindnord, who embarks on an adventure race for one last chance at redemption for his career. Along the way, his team encounters a dog that becomes a part of the team. Does this Wahlberg vehicle feel good enough to win the hearts of audiences?

Dog movies are so simple. All they have to accomplish is putting a dog on screen for "ruff"-ly ninety minutes, and dog lovers will lap it up. Arthur the King plays the exact same game. Every time the dog makes a noise or puts a paw in someone's hand, it's met with a collective "aw" from the audience. If that's your bag, more power to you. There's something beautiful in the simplicity of dog movies. To the movie's credit, Arthur is an adorable dog, and his journey with the team is cute. They form the strongest bond possible in the shortest amount of time. With a runtime of ninety minutes on the dot, Arthur the King has no time to spare. In fact, the movie feels like it barely has enough to take up the entire runtime. ​

The adventure race they go on is quite thrilling when it's the story's focus. Seeing them overcome treacherous obstacles like a botched zipline is the movie's highlight. Too much of the runtime is full of overdramatic melodrama. In reality, Wahlberg's character is just going through a midlife crisis. It's the most baseline feel-good sports movie. There's a scene where a board of executives asks Wahlberg why he races, and he just screams at them. Nathalie Emmanuel's character has a tacked-on internal conflict, and Simu Liu is really focused on Instagram likes. The concern for whether or not they win the races goes out the window about halfway through the movie, and some of the character decisions are baffling, considering the circumstances. Lame humor and cheesy moments flood Arthur the King. If you've seen the trailer, you've seen the whole movie. 

Fans of dogs and/or Mark Wahlberg will deem this flick a good time, but its genericism and feeble presentation make it a negative experience for film fans. While Wahlberg condemns his involvement with Boogie Nights, it's much preferred than his recent output. Luckily, this one will get lost in the woods at the box office as Dune: Part Two and Kung Fu Panda 4 are cleaning up before the arrivals of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and Godzilla x Kong: A New Empire. Fortunately for Wahlberg, dog lovers have a very low bar. 

Arthur the King opens in theaters on March 15.

Rating: 1/5