During a 700-kilometer race through the Latin American jungle, an extreme athlete meets a dog that won’t leave his side. The adventure film is based on a true story.
In the 1940s, Lassie touched the hearts of movie audiences. The film adaptation of the novel “Homesick” was followed by numerous cinema and TV productions about the intelligent collie. In “Benji – On the Hot Trail” it was a half-breed who rescued kidnapped children. In the comedy “A Dog Named Beethoven,” a St. Bernard caused a stir; in “Marley & Me” it was a Labrador Retriever. Films with dogs have a long tradition in Hollywood. Now Mark Wahlberg makes friends with a four-legged friend from the street in “Arthur the Great”.
“I am allergic to dogs,” said Wahlberg (52) in an interview with the German Press Agency in London. “But I love dogs. Dog allergies are more bearable for me.” In any case, he has to take allergy tablets regularly. However, he did not have an allergic reaction to his animal co-actor Ukai. Filming was still a challenge for him. On the first day of filming, Wahlberg tore his meniscus and continued filming. That made him give a little more, he said.
After a true story
The film is based on the true story of Swedish extreme athlete Mikael Lindnord, on whom Wahlberg’s role as Michael Light is based. Michael is considered one of the best in his field and has competed in many of the grueling multi-day endurance races but has never won one. The fact that after his failed last race a picture of him stuck in the mud made the rounds on social media, also posted by his disgruntled teammate Leo (Marvel star Simu Liu), gnaws at him. The job at his father’s company doesn’t suit the adrenaline junkie at all.
Michael wants to know again. He talks to Leo and puts together a team for the “Adventure Racing World Championships”, which also includes climbing expert Olivia (Nathalie Emmanuel from the “Fast & Furious” series) and Chik (Ali Suliman), who is actually too old for it . The quartet sets off for the Dominican Republic, where, after rather sparse preparation, they fight their way through the jungle, climb over mountains, cross deep gorges and raging rivers and push themselves to the limits of their physical and mental endurance.
Arthur becomes a motivator
When morale begins to decline due to various setbacks on the 700-kilometer adventure, Michael and his colleagues encounter a stray, sick dog that he had fed three days earlier, more than 300 kilometers from their current position. The trusting mongrel, whom Michael christens Arthur, even narrowly saves the quartet from catastrophe and soon becomes an important motivator. The team leader in particular takes a liking to the unexpected companion.
“There were a lot of things that I could identify with, which made the film a little more personal for me,” said amateur athlete Wahlberg. “I hope that this resonates with the audience.” In fact, the often underestimated actor is perfect for the role of an extreme athlete at the end of his career. On the one hand, the still toned former Calvin Klein model has the necessary physique. However, his affection for the dog, which only begins in the middle of the film, seems absolutely authentic. Some scenes with the restless four-legged friend are really touching.
Role model Mikael Lindnord, who provided the basis for the script with his book “Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home,” is very happy with the film. “He clearly exceeded my expectations,” enthused the 47-year-old in the dpa interview. “Watching the film on the big screen was like seeing my life again because some scenes were so close to what really happened in my life.” Photos of the real actors and Arthur can be seen in the credits , which confirm this.
Wahlberg as a stuntman
The fact that the actual race took place in Ecuador is irrelevant. It was shot in the Dominican Republic on beautiful original locations with fantastic scenery and spectacular stunts were staged. “I was pretty nervous,” admitted Wahlberg, who was his own stuntman in one of the best and most exciting scenes. In it, the adventurers cross the jungle with their bikes on a wire rope at dizzying heights. An incident occurs on the zip line. The moment was invented for the film. “But something like that could have happened at any time,” says Lindnord, “we used a lot of zip lines during the races.”
British director Simon Cellan Jones has worked primarily in television throughout his long career. After last year’s action comedy “The Family Plan”, “Arthur the Great” is the second joint project with Wahlberg in a short time. After a somewhat slow start, the friendly screen adventure picks up speed. The solidly staged, entertaining feel-good film entertains with beautiful landscapes, good actors and an animal star with whom the viewer quickly falls in love.
Arthur the Great, USA 2024, 108 min., FSK for ages 6 and up, by Simon Cellan Jones, with Mark Wahlberg, Nathalie Emmanuel
