A remake from 1981, Arthur puts Russell Brand in to the shoes of Dudley Moore, which can never be done, and perhaps that’s why director Jason Winer didn’t try to make Brand like Moore. He updated the story and let Brand be himself and it plays out perfectly. This version of Arthur is hilarious and actually heartwarming by the end. It works for today’s audience and Brand is certainly up for the challenge and his casting definitely pays off.
Arthur Bach (Brand) relies on two things in life: Money and his lifelong nanny Hobson (Helen Mirren). He is use to doing whatever he wants when he wants. And once he becomes uncontrollable and starts getting in to trouble in public, it begins to affect the family’s reputation and their company. So Arthur’s mother arranges a marriage between him and Susan Johnson (Jennifer Garner), who wants to get married for the obvious reasons—money and power.
However, he doesn’t have to marry Susan, but if he chooses not to then he is cut off from the money and everything that comes with it. And what should be a no-brainer for him actually becomes tougher than he could have ever imagined. He begins to fall for Naomi (Greta Gerwig) and she is completely the opposite of him or Susan. She does not care about money and seems to be happy no matter what her situation is. So it is up to Arthur to either give up the only life he knows for a shot at true love or live a life of emptiness but of luxury. Can you guess what he chooses?
Brand brings the comedy and that is to be expected. He is brilliant as Arthur. If a remake was going to happen then Brand is the perfect choice. But Mirren taking her shot at comedy is quite refreshing. She did a little bit of it in RED, but she really has some fun as Hobson. And while she is talented and classy, she brings real credibility to a comedy that may appear to be beneath her. The most surprising thing about Arthur is how emotional and heartfelt it becomes and it’s all due to the terrific chemistry between Brand and Mirren. It truly feels like a real friendship may have started between the two.
Arthur really surprised and impressed me. It is funny and has real meaning about the life you live and what’s really important in it. I didn’t expect that from a comedy starring Russell Brand, but I should have known better because it has Helen Mirren in it and she can bring out the best in anyone. And she can make an audience laugh as well. Who knew?
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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