Mark Wahlberg
and a new canine star star in
Arthur
, a film version of an incredible real-life story. The film,
based on an event that happened to the Swedish marathon runner Mikael Lindnord
, has the necessary ingredients to entertain all audiences.
In old Hollywood it was said that adult actors should never work with children or animals if they did not want to lose prominence. The concrete thing is that there are numerous films that have captivated with dogs in prominent roles. From the endearing Flike of
Umberto D
, the unique and affectionate Totó from
The Wizard of Oz
, the large family of Pongo and Perdita from
101 Dalmatians
, the mischievous Uggie from
The Artist
, to the recent presence of Messi, the border collie from the award-winning Anatomy of a fall, among many others.
In
Arthur
, over ten days of intense adventure competition with extreme weather situations, across 700 kilometers, in the Dominican Republic, where it was filmed, an unbreakable bond is forged between Michael Light (Mark Wahlberg) and a stray dog whose name gives title to the film. That bond of union, practically inexplicable, will end up
redefining what victory, loyalty and friendship really mean
.
Inspired by what happened in 2014, but in Ecuador, to the Swedish runner Mikael Lindnord who was participating in a world championship called Huairasinchi ("The force of the wind", in Quechua) when a dog that lived on the street, which he named Arthur , decided to accompany him through the jungle, climb mountains, cross rivers and survive thanks to packaged meatballs and drinks of water.
In the film's plot, directed with pace by
Simon Cellan Jones
(he also led Wahlberg in the comedy
Family Plan
), Michael is an arrogant and hyper-competitive man whose stubbornness causes his team to lose an important competition. Three years later he expresses to his wife Helena (Juliet Rylance, whom we saw in the bloody
Sinister
), his intention to try again and rebuild a
team
to get sponsors.
With the company of Leo, an Instagram celebrity (Simu Liu, the Chinese actor from
Barbie
), the expert climber Olivia (Nathalie Emmanuel, from
Fast and Furious
and Game of Thrones) and the experienced navigator Chik (Ali Suliman, Israeli actor from
The Shadow of the Kingdom
and
The Web of Lies
) launches into an action-packed adventure in which zip-lining, trekking, cycling, kayaking and more demonstrate the proverbial capacity of human beings to adapt to extreme conditions.
Mark Wahlberg and his inseparable dog, in the film "Arthur."
On a stop to regain strength, Michael discovers the touching gaze of Arthur who walks the streets in search of scraps, ownerless and visibly hurt.
From then on, he will be the fifth member of the team and will take care of them, in the purest style of the legendary Lassie. For example, when she stops them from walking towards a dangerous cliff in the jungle in the middle of a rainy night. As he continues the race,
Arthur becomes a celebrity for the media covering the course
, and when the competition concludes he will be adopted by Michael and integrated into his family.
Although predictable, the film never bores and is moving and inspiring, which is quite a merit.
The endearing Ukai, such as the dog's real name, steals many scenes with his mere presence. The athletic and charismatic Wahlberg, one of the film's producers, shines with his own light in a role tailored to him and the rest of the cast is up to the task. To highlight, the script by Michael Brandt, the photography by Frenchman Jacques Jouffret, the music by Kevin Matley and the dog training by Mathilde de Cagny.
Everywhere with the dog. In the movie his name is Arthur, but his real name is Ukai and he is the star of the film.
File
Arthur
Rating
: Good
Adventure/Drama. United States, 2024. 107', ATP. Original title: “Arthur, the King”.
Director
: Simon Cellan Jones
With
: Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman and the dog Ukai
Theaters
: Cinépolis Recoleta and Houssay, Cinemark Palermo, Hoyts Abasto and Dot, Atlas Caballito, Flores and Patio Bullrich.