Arthur the King

The four-pawed title character in Arthur the King is more compelling and compassionate than his two-legged companions.

So the human co-stars enable him to steal the spotlight in this melodramatic crowd-pleaser, based on a true story, about redemption and humility in which the poignancy outweighs the predictability.

Michael (Mark Wahlberg) is an ego-driven adrenaline junkie burdened with guilt and regret. While he’s one of the world’s top adventure racers — a grueling team sport combining multiple disciplines — but a world championship has eluded him.

Worse yet, he’s still haunted by a 3-year-old viral photo of him literally stuck in the mud during a race. “I raced for 19 years and this is what I’m remembered for,” he laments to his wife (Juliet Rylance).

Seeking one more chance, Michael begins training in earnest and tries to recruit sponsors for a squad. But any potential deal includes mending fences with Leo (Simu Liu), his brash former teammate with a robust social-media following.

Two other colleagues (Ali Suliman and Nathalie Emmanuel) round out the squad heading to the jungles of the Dominican Republic. As they make an underdog run toward the top of the leaderboard, a stray mutt happens along to help bail them out of a jam — and then keeps going.

The film extols the virtues of canine companionship as the newly named Arthur transitions from a pesky mascot to a vital member of the team. Indeed, the dog’s resilience and resourcefulness gradually becomes an indispensable asset.

Wahlberg certainly handles the physical rigors of the role with conviction, while he also generates hard-earned sympathy considering Michael’s abrasive and stubborn disposition.

The film marks a suitable introduction to the sport of adventure racing by depicting its alluring thrills and its perilous challenges in equal measure. An extended zipline sequence high over a canyon is not for the squeamish.

Meanwhile, director Simon Cellan Jones (The Family Plan) stylishly captures the lush tropical terrain that’s as beautiful as it is harrowing. The embellished screenplay by Michael Brandt (3:10 to Yuma) adheres to a conventional narrative structure while tugging too aggressively at the heartstrings.

The uneven meshing of the two parallel storylines muddles the dramatic stakes before the finish line, but Arthur the King finds inspiration beneath its shaggy exterior.

Rated PG-13, 107 minutes.