By Jeanni Ritchie

Zip-lining upside down in the Dominican Republic has never been on my bucket list and after watching Arthur the King, I can safely say that it never will be.

 

I was on the edge of my seat even before one of the racer’s equipment malfunctioned, my fear mocking my schoolyard bravado. Michael Light far outpaces me in the bravery department.

 

Based on the real-life story of Mikael Lindnord, Arthur the King is based on the autobiographical Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home.

 

Going into its second week in the #3 spot at the box office, the title dog barely has a presence for the first hour, a sleeper in his own heroic tale.

 

The movie starts with Michael, a competitive racer inundated with setbacks and regret, desperate for one last shot at glory.

 

I related to him well.

 

Knowing he had greatness in him and refusing to go out anywhere but on top, Michael Light convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic.

 

Assembling his team wasn’t an autonomous decision. As I’ve discovered all too well, social media is a necessary component to navigate in today’s culture and his fourth man had a bankable online presence.

 

Working together, however, was necessary for survival and the team persevered through the 435-mile endurance race through the mountains. Led by a stellar cast including Mark Wahlberg as Michael Light, the movie also stars Simu Liu (Leo), Juliet Rylance (Helena Light), Nathalie Emmanuel (Olivia), and Ali Suliman (Chik).

 

Of course it was 6-year old Cece Valentina as Ruby Light who stole my heart in her very first theatrical audition role. While she only appeared in a handful of scenes, the adorable actress lights up the screen every time she appears.

 

Garnering more screen time deserving of a movie title moniker, Ukai, the Australian shepherd/border collie/Bouvier mix plays Arthur, named after the king of Camelot.

 

His heroic journey is even more astounding than the team of racers who hiked, biked, and kayaked over the course of ten days. He survived life-threatening injuries and bureaucratic red tape to make it not just through the race, but across the border to join Light and his family in their home.

 

I felt like the filmmakers had been spying in my own home as I recalled the conversation I’d had nearly a decade ago with my own dog. “I’m not a dog person; I’ve never had a pet.” Izzie managed to steal my heart as well and our bond had been unbreakable. She and I were as inseparable as Arthur and Light were; she too overcame a difficult beginning to become more than just a pet. Like Arthur, she was a member of our family.

 

A dog’s love is unconditional and one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind.

 

See Arthur the King in a theater near you.