Coming to Blu-ray and DVD on May 28, 2024, and currently available on digital, is the heart-warming film, Arthur the King.
Arthur the King stars Mark Wahlberg, Nathalie Emmanuel, Simu Liu, Ali Suliman, Juliet Rylance and Ukai (the dog who played the role of Arthur).
The film is based off the real life story. It’s based off the 2016 memoir Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find Home by Mikael Lindnord, a Swedish adventure racer who befriended a stray dog during the 2014 Adventure Racing World Championship in Ecuador.
In the movie version there are slight difference. Michael (Wahlberg) is spelled differently, and he hails from Colorado in the film, not Sweden. The race also took place in the Dominican Republic. While there are a few differences here and there, the bulk of the film is based off a true story.
Michael has never won the Adventure Racing World Championship. His dream is to win it one day.
He was going to give up on his dream, but he opted to give it one more time before settling into his position of a real estate agent.
After gathering up his team, they fly to the Dominican Republic for the race, which essentially takes them around the whole island, from the water to the mountains, and to the jungle and everything in between.
While there is a designated path participants can follow, many racers try and find short cuts to save time and ideally beat out their competitors. Michael and his team do just that.
At one of their rest stops, Michael befriends a stray dog by feeding him some meatballs. Little did he know, this kind gesture made a huge impact on the pooch, who is used to being beat and chased by people.
As Michael and his team continue to race around the island, they find that the stray dog keeps showing up. That means he must know where to go.
Before long, Michael and his team take the dog in and treat him as one of their own.
Will Michael and his team FINALLY win the race? What will happen to Arthur when the race is over? To find out, check out the film, Arthur the King. Look for it where movies are sold/rented digitally, and on Blu-ray and DVD May 28, 2024.
I watched the digital version of the film. On Blu-ray and DVD you can find bonus content.
- Fandango at Home Exclusive Featurette – “Adventure Racing: On Set”
- Blu-ray™ + DVD Special Features:
- Audio Commentary with Director Simon Cellan Jones and Author Mikael Lindnord
- Audio Commentary with Producers Tucker Tooley and Tessa Tooley
- Audio Commentary with Producer Mark Canton and Executive Producer Dorothy Canton
- “Finding Arthur” featurette
- “A Love Letter to Arthur” featurette
- “A Dog’s Journey: Making Arthur the King” featurette
- Mark Wahlberg and Best Friends Animal Society
- Theatrical Trailer
I’m a sucker for a pet-centered film (as long as the animal doesn’t die!). I thought this film would be more centered on the dog, however, the film is mostly about Michael achieving his dream of finally winning the race (or not… I won’t give away spoilers). That’s fine. I was just surprised that Arthur wasn’t a main character along side Wahlberg.
Overall I think it’s a wonderful and inspiring story (never give up). It just broke my heart to know that Arthur never knew kindness until he met Michael and his team. WHY people are like that towards animals is beyond me. You can tell A LOT about a person by the way they treat an animal.
I will say that there were a few parts at the end that I fast forwarded through (but eventually went back and watched) pertaining to Arthur and what happens to him immediately after the race is over. As a pet mom, certain situations trigger me into relieving memories of our beloved pets that have moved over the Rainbow Bridge. Just be sure to have some tissues handy.
The cinematography was great and really added to this incredible adventure. What the racers face is crazy! I know I couldn’t do it.
If you are interested in learning more about Michael and Arthur, check out their official website, ArthurtheKing.movie (notice that its .movie, not .com).You can also follow the film on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X. The official hashtag is #AuthurtheKing.
Arthur the King is released by Lionsgate. To keep up-to-date on new movie releases, visit Lionsgate.com. Be sure to follow them on social media too.
Below is the film’s trailer for your entertainment. The film is no longer in theaters.
Kimberly
*I received a free copy of this film in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.