Quality Children's Entertainment Family Movie Reviews

Arthur The King * A Captivating Emotional Journey That Tugs At Your Heartstrings, Leaving You Teary-Eyed Yet Filled With A Sense Of Joy

Over the course of ten days and 435 miles, an unbreakable bond is forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light (Mark Wahlberg) and a scrappy street dog companion dubbed Arthur. Based on an incredible true story, Arthur The King follows Light, desperate for one last chance to win, as he convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes (Simu Liu, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Ali Suliman) for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic. As the team is pushed to their outer limits of endurance in the race, Arthur redefines what victory, loyalty and friendship truly mean.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic David D. comments, “Arthur The King is a captivating emotional journey that tugs at your heartstrings, leaving you teary-eyed yet filled with a sense of joy. This film is a delightful blend of suspense, humor, and adventure, making it a must-watch for audiences of all ages.” Rayce S. adds, “Arthur the King is a great family film and a good movie with a strong main character and a heartwarming story. However, even with all these great aspects, the greatest part of this film is the dog.” See their full reviews below.

Arthur The King
By David E., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

Simu Liu as Leo, Nathalie Emmanuel as Olivia, Mark Wahlberg as Michael and Ali Suliman as Chik in Arthur The King. Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez

Arthur The King is a captivating emotional journey that tugs at your heartstrings, leaving you teary-eyed yet filled with a sense of joy. This film is a delightful blend of suspense, humor, and adventure, making it a must-watch for audiences of all ages.

Based on the true story of Mikeal Lindnord (Mark Wahlberg), the movie takes us on a thrilling ride as Mikeal and his group set out to win a race that will go down in history. However, their journey takes an unexpected turn when they encounter Arthur (Ukai), a lovable dog who becomes an integral part of their team.

What makes Arthur The King truly special is its ability to resonate with both dog lovers and non-dog lovers alike. The film’s visuals are breathtakingly natural, capturing the beauty of the outdoors with stunning cinematography and seamless editing. It’s evident that the crew poured their hearts into bringing this true story to life, and their dedication shines through in every frame.

Nathalie Emmanuel as Olivia, Mark Wahlberg as Michael, Ali Suliman as Chik and Simu Liu as Leo in Arthur The King. Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez

Mark Wahlberg’s portrayal of Mikeal Lindnord is nothing short of remarkable. He exudes leadership and compassion, especially towards Arthur, which instantly endears him to the audience. Ukai’s performance as Arthur adds depth and charm to the film, elevating it to new heights. One of the film’s greatest strengths is its pacing. Despite its quick pace, Arthur The King never feels rushed. Instead, it effectively conveys the message of the film – that a dog truly is man’s best friend – in a short amount of time, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Ali Suliman as Chik and Mark Wahlberg as Michael in Arthur The King. Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez

The message is “dog is man’s best friend” and it serves as a reminder of the special connection between humans and dogs.

I give Arthur The King 4 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults (and dog lovers.) This film is a heartwarming tale that will leave you laughing, crying, and ultimately feeling uplifted. Don’t miss your chance to experience this emotional thrill ride when it hits theaters on March 15, 2024.

Arthur the King
By Rayce S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Ali Suliman as Chik, Mark Wahlberg as Michael, Nathalie Emmanuel as Olivia and Simu Liu as Leo in Arthur The King. Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez

Arthur the King is a great family film and a good movie with a strong main character and a heartwarming story. However, even with all these great aspects, the greatest part of this film is the dog.

The story focuses on Mikael Linord (Mark Wahlberg) is a renowned adventure racer who has a lot of medals but has never won the championship. He tries to get back into the sport that he loves, but along comes a furry friend to help him overcome his fears and possibly win the championship. The team adopts the dog and the adventure begins.

Arthur the King does everything right. To start off the protagonist, Mikael goes through a simple but great character journey, starting off the film as someone who refuses to listen to other people’s point of view but grows as a person learning to consider others ideas by the end.

Simu Liu as Leo and Mark Wahlberg as Michael in Arthur The King. Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez

Mikael isn’t the only thing that makes this film good— it’s also a heartwarming story about family. If you’re looking for a good film you can see with your family this is the one—you’ll be happy watching this film. You may feel a little sad but mostly you’ll be rooting for the characters to succeed. And Arthur the dog will win you over.

Mark Wahlberg as Michael in Arthur The King. Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez

The filmmakers make sure you love Arthur and hope that it never gets hurt and that it succeeds. That leads to us getting invested in this dog, and in Mikael’s story, which creates strong emotional moments. 

The theme of Arthur the King is that sometimes you have one goal and yet achieving that goal isn’t necessarily the most important thing in your life. The theme is portrayed by Mikael as learns that his goal isn’t what’s most important to him—it’s what he has that he takes for granted.

I give Arthur the King 3.5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. This film releases in theaters March 15, 2024

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