Inspired by the true story of the Ecuadorian dog, Arthur, and adapted from the memoir “Arthur – The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home” written by Mikael Lindnord and Val Hudson, Simon Cellan Jones’ adventure drama film, “Arthur the King,” starring Mark Wahlberg and Simu Liu, revolves around the life of Michael, who participates in the Adventure Racing World Championship. While Michael fails to win this championship, he is the most experienced campaigner among the participants. This is a story of winning millions of hearts because Michael’s last participation witnessed something extraordinary that had never happened in this championship before. The movie itself doesn’t stand out as exquisitely as the true story. But if you love a dog movie, you can definitely watch it.
Spoilers Ahead
Arthur The King (2024) Plot Summary and Movie Synopsis
The film starts with Michael participating in Adventure Racing along with his teammates in 2014, where he makes a bad decision. One of his teammates, Leo, takes a picture of him and then posts it on the internet. Soon, the post becomes viral, making Michael a joke. However, most professionals respect Michael for his unbreakable spirit as a sportsman, and he is a legend in the game. He has never just won because of his pride and ego.
In 2018, Michael again thinks of applying for the World Championship as without the champions trophy, he feels like his life will be incomplete. He still sees the picture that Leo had posted a long time ago and thinks that the world needs to know he is more than that picture. Meanwhile, in a different part of the world, we see a stray dog looking for food, and he is terribly injured. He is being chased by other dogs, and he somehow manages to escape the Dominican Republic.
How does Michael Gather his Team?
When Michael talks about participating in the championship, his wife, Helen, assures him that he will have her support and that he should definitely try being a champion. Michael heads straight to Chik, his most trusted comrade who is now doing business. Chik has a bad knee, and for that, he was kicked out of his old team. Now, he is somehow managing his daily earnings. Later, Michael visits Olivia, whose father has been a champion mountain climber.
Olivia herself is one of the finest climbers, and since her father has cancer (which she reveals later), when he asks her to participate in the race, Olivia thinks that if she truly becomes a champion, it would be a great parting gift from her to her father. So, Olivia and Chik join Michael’s team but there is still one spot remaining. When Michael goes to the sponsors asking them for money they do not show much confidence because of Michael’s track record.
The company Broadtrail, however, agrees to fund Michael. But they will give him half the amount he is asking. Also, they need Leo to be the fourth member since he has a great social media influence. Michael, for the sake of the championship, meets with Leo and convinces him to be part of his team. Leo coerces Michael to agree that in last year’s championship, Michael made the wrong decision, and that was the reason they lost. Michael admits that and his team heads for the Dominican Republic to participate in the championship.
Why does Michael Decide to keep the Stray Dog?
When Michael and his team somehow manage to keep up the pace, the stray dog from before arrives at the location where the racers take their time off. Chik is brilliant with navigation, and he has found some shortcuts to give them the time advantage. While everyone is busy gathering their strength, Michael sees the stray dog looking him in the eyes. Michael thinks that the dog is in need of some food so he goes up to him to share a couple of meatballs.
A still from “Arthur The King” (2024)Moments later, they leave the place, and under Chik’s command, they find the shortest way to cover the distance. However, there comes a time when they come across a cliff, and Olivia shows them how to climb it while keeping their bicycles on their backs. Later, when they are abseiling, Chik and Leo successfully reach the other side of the terrain while Olivia is stuck in the middle of the line because of some gadget malfunction.
Michael shows some brilliant presence of mind. He successfully saves Olivia from a sure death. Later, when they find out that they are the first to come to the resting zone or sort of lap. This gives them a good amount of time to freshen up. But Michael, along with his teammates, decides that they will not waste much time and will continue traveling at night. While walking inside the jungle, Chik’s bad knee starts to hurt. Moreover, Leo is constantly pushing Michael that they should continue walking as they are losing time.
Michael decides to stop for a while so that Chik can rest a bit and soon he starts fighting with Leo because Leo is acting selfish here. When Olivia fails to stop them, surprisingly, the stray dog comes to the place and barks at them. They are surprised to see it as well, and they start walking. Later that night, Leo takes a wrong turn and almost ends up on a cliff. However, the dog saves his life. Michael, for the first time, thinks that the stray dog is here with them for a reason, and so he decides to take him along.
Arthur The King (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
Why does Michael lose the Race?
Michael gives the stray the name of King Arthur because he waits for others before having his meal. When Michael gives him the meatballs, only then does he eat, but never begs for food. Michael sees this attitude as King’s because he is a survivor who is keeping up with them. He has no clue how Arthur has reached them so fast without even climbing those cliffs or moving from one terrain to another. However, there is one possible way that Arthur has followed the river and with his sniffing power, he was able to find Michael every time.
Anyway, when their team reaches the last stage of the championship, they need to boat race. As of now, Michael’s picture with Arthur has already become an internet sensation. Even Helen sees the picture back at home and shares it with their daughter. When they are about to board the boats, one of the organizers tells Michael that Arthur cannot be allowed because the boat barely fits two persons and having Arthur will be their liability, which the organizers cannot afford.
Michael bids goodbye to Arthur and starts surfing the boat. But soon he sees that Arthur has jumped into the water and is trying hard to reach them. Seeing Arthur’s determination, even at the cost of his life, Michael is deeply moved. He asks Leo to turn the boat around because Arthur is one of them, and he cannot leave him to die in the middle of nowhere. Leo resists for a while because they are just a couple of miles away from winning the championship.
Another still from “Arthur The King” (2024)But, again, Arthur once saved Leo’s life, and he has been one heck of a member of this group. So, Leo and Michael finally stand on the same ground, and together, they bring Arthur to the touchline. When the race is finally over, Michael’s team comes second, but Arthur seems to be in grave trouble. Michael takes him to the local vet, where they say that the chances are very low and suggest they can ease Arthur’s pain before he dies.
Is Arthur Alive?
Michael calls his family and shares the news. The doctor says that Arthur has been a victim of vicious abuse. The wounds have worsened his health drastically. Michael goes back to Arthur and asks him, while keeping eye contact, whether he should take a chance to save him or if Arthur is just too tired to keep fighting. Arthur extends his hands in a way that supports the idea that Michael must try something to keep him alive.
Michael takes him right at that very moment from the vet and brings him along to spend the night in a hotel. However, Arthur seems reluctant to go inside the hotel, and since he prefers to stay on the street, Michael stays there, too. Perhaps the owner of the hotel at the beginning of the film had a strong dislike for Arthur and somehow tortured him brutally. This is the reason Arthur fears entering any kind of hotel or restaurant.
The next morning, Leo comes and wakes Michael as they are leaving for the United States. There is a potential threat that still follows since the Dominican Republic does not allow pets to cross the border in flight, so Michael has to put up a strong case for the sake of saving Arthur. But, surprisingly, when Michael enters the airport, there is a huge crowd, including media personnel and participants from the championship.
Chik has revealed that he has called the leader of the winning team, Decker, who has been so irritating throughout the tournament. Well, seeing Michael’s impeccable bond with Arthur, Decker takes the step and invites everyone to the airport because, in their presence, it will be hard for law enforcement to reject Michael’s appeal to let Arthur come to the United States. However, Arthur comes in a box because they will not allow the passenger seat for a dog.
In the United States, some very difficult operations are done on Arthur with the money Michael has received through crowdfunding. The world knows Arthur’s story and the severe pain he is going through, so they decide to put in their money to save his life. Arthur’s chances of survival are very thin as the doctor calls Michael to meet with him once. At that moment, it feels like Arthur is gone forever. But after 18 months, we see him running alongside Michael. We see him in his best health as he cherishes every moment of his life by sharing it with Michael and his family.
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