I was initially uninterested in seeing this movie because for some reason I had the impression it would be a bit hokey or contrived – maybe a bit too much like a flashback to Benji and Lassie shows from decades ago for those of you old enough to remember . Had my wife not continued suggesting it, I probably would not have seen it. Some people would go just to see Mark Wahlberg. Others just for the dog. For me, what I liked most was the overarching message that sometimes in competition (and this adventure race was a BIG one), there are priorities that are more important than winning. In this case, it’s the team’s affection and caring over the stray and injured dog, Arthur that befriends the team, helps them, and becomes a most loyal companion in difficult times.
The movie is based on the true story of a down-on-his-luck adventure racer Michael Light who manages to pull a team together in an attempt to finally win a tough 5-day adventure race through the jungles and waters of the Dominican Republic. On day two of the race, the dog gingerly approaches the team at a rest stop. Over the subsequent days the dog, now dubbed Arthur, continues to follow them through the jungles, and ultimately earns the full trust and care of the team despite causing them to lose their first place position in the race.
As I watched the movie, I came to realize that whenever I embark on a race or adventure, I’m always in full competitive mode with a go-go-go mentality and unlikely to stop or slow down for others. My wife reminds me of that on our regular walks together!! But when I saw how deep the bond between dog and team became, and how much more that bond meant than a 1st place finish to them and to the world watching, it occurred to me that there might be times in my future where a little less focus on winning might be worth it.