Arthur the King has superficial and insincere themes of love, gratitude, and perseverance. Its melodrama is manipulative and strained, transparently posturing the illusion of emotional weight rather than providing valuable insight. There's blunt dialogue (telling over showing), cheap plot gimmicks, predictable formulas, excessive set pieces, privileged stakes, thin story, cliche platitudes, and a muddled arc. Despite the protagonist making a climactic choice, his character isn't defined enough for that to feel like growth. Its acting flashes insufficient chemistry and tenderness, more often coming across stiff, sanitized, or mild. Overall, Arthur the King is safe and obvious.
Technically, Arthur the King is routine, weightless, and broad. The cinematography stays very basic or gets overly shaky to compensate. Its editing has a concise runtime, monotonous pacing, and weak momentum. The sound adds voiceovers, stings, weather, and silence. Its music has regional flair and timing, but is mostly generic and arbitrary. The production design offers real locations and sporting equipment, yet also feels limited. Its negligible effects provide solid animal training. The cast is recognizable but Wahlberg's fit as a relatable everyman is questionable. Ultimately, Arthur the King goes through all the expected motions, making it competently pedestrian.
Writing: 3/10
Direction: 4/10
Cinematography: 4/10
Acting: 6/10
Editing: 4/10
Sound: 5/10
Score/Soundtrack: 5/10
Production Design: 6/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 5/10
Overall Score: 4.9/10
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