After a stormy day, there always comes a sunny day, and that sunny day has finally arrived in Mark Wahlberg’s acting career. Mark Wahlberg’s new drama, Arthur the King, breaks the actor’s long-time streak of poor Rotten Tomatoes scores. This is indeed a time for celebration for Wahlberg as he hasn’t had a fresh movie since Instant Family in 2018.
Mark Wahlberg’s latest film sees a rise in Rotten Tomatoes score
After five years, Mark Wahlberg’s starring film, Arthur the King, marks an impressive score on Rotten Tomatoes. The news comes as a thrilling one for Wahlberg as the last film that received a decent score at Rotten Tomato was Instant Family in 2018. Since then, he saw a drastic fall until his latest film, Arthur the King, made a good comeback.
Directed by Simon Cellan Jones, the 2024 film is based on the 2016 nonfiction book Arthur—The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home by Mikael Lindnord. The film follows the story of Michael Light (Wahlberg), who participates in an endurance race in the Dominican Republic with a team of athletes. Light, the captain of the team, befriends a wounded stray dog named Arthur, who accompanies the team on a grueling 435-mile (700 km) race.
The film has garnered positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and the film is currently sitting at a still-fresh 64% critics’ score based on 50 reviews. However, its audience score is a stellar 95% based on over 100 reviews. The website’s consensus reads: “It’s hard to deny Arthur the King’s ability to tug at the heartstrings, although it may have been more effective if it had taken a subtler approach.”
A reflection on Mark Wahlberg’s cinematic journey
Mark Wahlberg is undoubtedly a renowned star today. However, the actor has seen his fair share of struggle. The actor rose to stardom with Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights. He also received critical acclaim for starring in gritty crime thrillers and dramas, such as the Oscar-winning The Departed.
Apart from showing his acting chops, the actor has also been a producer for many films. However, he became a producer out of necessity, not out of choice. Previously, during an interview, the actor shared that he struggled to bag roles in films and had to wait for stars like Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio to reject the roles so that he could gain one. Throughout his career, Wahlberg has given numerous performances, proving his versatility. Now, according to a recent statement by Wahlberg, the actor has decided to shift his focus to family-friendly movies.
Reflecting on the films he has appeared in since 2018, it seems like Walhberg has adhered to his notion of working on family dramas. Some of the lighthearted comedies he has appeared in since 2018 include Me Time and The Family Plan, or inspirational movies, including Father Stu and Joe Bell.
