Review of film: "ARTHUR"

2011, 04-04:

Review of film:  “ARTHUR”

                                   Does Being a DRUNK Make You a “SKUNK”?...

In 1981, Dudley Moore had a big hit with a funny movie- called “ARTHUR”.  This new film is a “re-imagining” of that film with OTHER English stars headlining...

...  RUSSELL BRAND plays Arthur, a rich “playboy” son whose main “hobbies” in life are doing NOTHING of consequence, collecting “famous” movie CARS, & DRINKING most of the time (all of which tend to be “LINKED” with each other)... 

...  He’s cared for by his acerbic “nanny” Hobson (HELEN MIRREN), who clearly points out his numerous shortcomings and failures & improper attitudes and actions;  but, he very seldom really “listens” to her wise (& droll) advice...

...  Russell is the son of uber-wealthy Vivienne (GERALDINE JAMES), who runs the Bach Worldwide conglomerate and wants him to be “RESPONSIBLE” in life...  He, of course, doesn’t “listen” to her...

...  When Russell and his chauffer Bitterman (LUIS GÚZMAN) become “front page” news after being arrested for running into the famous “Wall Street” bull with his “BATMAN” car, Geraldine “lays down the law” to the effect that Russell needs to get MARRIED promptly or else she will CUT-OFF his money...

...  Geraldine knows there’s a sharp businesswoman named Susan Johnson (JENNIFER GARNER) who’d be great at managing their fortune, and insists that SHE’S the one Russell should wed... 

...  At one point, he’s told to meet with her tough father Burt (NICK NOLTE), who owns a construction company.  They don’t get along very well, since Nick dislikes “loopy” drunks--  tho he “controls” his responses because he knows his daughter would like control of the Bach fortune...

...  In the midst of all this, Russell chances to meet an unlicensed tour operator named Naomi Quinn  (GRETA GERWIG), and he’s “taken” with her...  Despite the fact that he’s regular “fodder” for TV “gossip” shows and newspaper tabloids, she supposedly has NO IDEA “who” he is, & just “appreciates” the way he’s so “friendly” & “nutty / funny”...

...  Well, Jennifer doesn’t like the fact that he’s spending time with another woman (since she wants “IN” on his fortune & “high society” connections), & that causes a number of CONFLICTS between the various parties... 

...  In the meantime, Helen tries to “steer” Russell in the proper “directions”--  most of which he inebriatedly IGNORES...  She grows very ILL at one point, which finally starts to “concern” him a bit in life...

...  Will Helen be able to get “THRU” to Russell?...  Will he continue to see Greta?...  Will he follow-up with Geraldine’s wishes of MARRYING Jennifer?...  Will he ever “wise-up” & STOP his profligate drinking?...

...  The film provided a number of LAUGHS --  although mostly of a “mild” manner --, thanks mainly to very effective work by RUSSELL & HELEN...

...  However, I found Greta to be a “WEAK LINK” in the ensemble, either because of how her part is “written” and / or how she “plays” her part:  altho her “chipper” role is supposed to be a very “ON-THE-BALL” type person, she alternates between being overly “oblivious” (not knowing “who” he is or seeing his “problems”), and being insufficiently “WITH-IT” as a “sharp” character...

...  In other words, whether thru “mis-casting” or whatever, she simply doesn’t seem particularly “BELIEVABLE” in her role as someone who’d be really “attractive” to Russell or could “keep-up” with him (comedy-wise and other-wise, such as understanding his “troubles” with the drinking & all)...

...  Russell himself does not come across as a “lovable” drunk so much as someone who’s sort of “CHARMING” in a cockamamie way...  Thus, since he & Helen & Jennifer ARE effectual in an enjoyable fashion, I’m rating the film at 7.25 out of 10 stars...

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