Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Arthur (2011)

Director: Jason Winer

Time Out rating

Average user rating

12 reviews

Synopsis

Russell Brand stars as the titular drunk millionaire in this remake of the 1981 Dudley Moore comedy.

Movie review

From Time Out London

Thirty years on from Dudley Moore, another British comedian stars as a sozzled super-wealthy man-child being forced by his tycoon family to choose between money and love. Russell Brand’s obviously there for his naughty-boy charm, but the casting backfires because he’s not equipped for the part. Dudley Moore always suggested a sweet soul beneath the drink-fuelled bravado, yet with Brand the showy petulance masks – what? – a deeper layer of showy petulance? Since Brand doesn’t make us care whether Arthur finds love (and his big emotional moments expose the comedian’s acting limitations), the movie’s essentially a goner, no matter that it finds inventive new ways to show off his billionaire spending power, including a floating magnetic bed, his own Batmobile and dinner for two in rented-out Grand Central station.

That said, the female roles, the weakest element in the original, get a makeover, with Jennifer Garner effective as the grasping nouvelle riche earmarked for Brand’s dynastic marriage, and mumblecore sweetheart Greta Gerwig stealing the show as the illegal tour guide who’s the kooky-yet-endearing object of the hero’s affections. Gerwig is more relaxed than anyone, not least Helen Mirren, who can’t work out whether her nanny role is bitchy or serious, probably because the writing has de-clawed the John Gielgud character and ripped the heart from the story. The passage of time has brought us a blander, more responsible ‘Arthur’ with far fewer laughs and, be warned, a painful update on the classic Burt Bacharach title tune over the end credits.

Author: Trevor Johnston

Time Out London Issue 2122: 23 - 29 April, 2011

Email Tweet Share

User reviews of this film

Natalia said...

Posted on May 12 2011 12:00 Don't waste your time watching this awful unfunny show. You lose brain cells just watching it.

Report as inappropriate
caro said...

Posted on May 08 2011 16:14 Do not encourage the makers of films, such as this utter drivel, by bothering to spend your hard earned cash in going to see this complete waste of money time and (no) talent. What a piece of vanity to have made it at all esp. with the cringeworthy, preposterously appalling lead. Not a single element of redemption except if you are in a poor sleep pattern it would certainly offer a worthwhile couple of hours shuteye.

Report as inappropriate
vale said...

Posted on May 01 2011 19:49 hilarous

Report as inappropriate
TRUTHTELLER. said...

Posted on Apr 29 2011 10:09 Ditto on Jimmy's review.

Report as inappropriate
Jimmy said...

Posted on Apr 28 2011 07:28 Sophisticated humour this is not. Then again, Russell Brand thought his "obscene" prank phone calls (with Jonathan Ross) to Andrew Sachs hilarious back in 2008. The BBC and others thought otherwise. Brand hasn't worked for the BBC since. Bear in mind that incident is an excellent indicator as to the “humour” you’ll encounter during Arthur. I went to see Arthur out of curiosity – was this film going to be as bad as critics made out? The answer - “yes”. I left after 40 mins.

Report as inappropriate
scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Apr 27 2011 19:35 Just about worth watching on dvd instead of cash in the attic.
Night out? Hell no! note, turned on phone at start of end credits thinking "2 hours surely" but no, 102 min. also noted a fair few happy punters on the way out. Each to their own!

Report as inappropriate
Mike said...

Posted on Apr 27 2011 11:57 As lame as the trailers. Brand doesn't lend the film anything a better actor couldn't - and he clearly struggles - even with material this bad. That said, the script and predictable storyline make you wonder whether the entire film was dreamt up/scripted/filmed/edited in a half day. Why does Helen Mirren keep playing these 'wasp-ish'/unhumourous types? One star.

Report as inappropriate
Marcia said...

Posted on Apr 27 2011 00:46 As bad as could be. How can a movie be so unfunny?

Report as inappropriate
Ian said...

Posted on Apr 24 2011 09:56 Taxi for Brand. Surely Russell is at 14 minutes 30 seconds of his 15 minutes of fame. A poor lame story where Brand's once individual style of humour now just grates. Spoilt brat meets kooky girl. Poor she may be but within 15 minutes you can't help beleieve she wouldn't want to hit him. All in all just a bit embarassing. I went to see it thinking the reviews can't be that bad.If anything they flatter the film.

Report as inappropriate
Mike said...

Posted on Apr 20 2011 20:42 @Puppy Dog Ears: Most films run trailers a few weeks before. The exceptions to that tend to be the really bad ones. I see Time Out has just given two stars to this film and questioned Brand's ability to act: "Since Brand doesn’t make us care whether Arthur finds love (and his big emotional moments expose the comedian’s acting limitations), the movie’s essentially a goner ... "

Report as inappropriate
Puppy Dog Ears said...

Posted on Apr 19 2011 19:54 Er, isn't that the purpose of a trailer?

Report as inappropriate
Mike said...

Posted on Mar 21 2011 22:57 You can tell this film is going to be desperately bad: a) no one has laughed at the trailers for this film at either of the films I've been to see this week; b) they're running trailers 2 months ahead of the film opening.

Report as inappropriate