Russell Brand on the loose

Arthur (2011)
Certified: 14
Duration: 110 minutes
Directed by: Jason Winer
Starring: Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Greta Gerwig, Luis Guzman, Geraldine James, Nick Nolte, Jennie Eisenhower
KRS release

With this reworking of the 1981 Dudley Moore film, Russell Brand once again gives his fans a dose of the wild over-the-top saucy humour that he is so well known for.

Continuing in the Russell Brand style last seen in Get Him to the Greek or Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Arthur eschews sophistication in favour of an attitude-filled ride. This is a film that comes with no pretentions and a good natured sense to it that is sometimes sadly missing in other comedies. The result is a film that has the possibility to induce giddy and embarrassing laughter.

Russell Brand plays Arthur Bach a millionaire who has never done a day’s work in all his life. He is so filthy rich that he can afford to indulge his every whim, every extravagance and every Mad Hatter idea, such as dressing as Batman while his driver Bitterman (Luis Guzman) is made to dress as Robin. Moreover, he is constantly embarrassing his mother Vivienne (Geraldine James) who heads the family business. While his drunken spells often get out of hand.

In an effort to end all this behaviour and get her son to behave, Vivienne gives Arthur an ultimatum: either marry Susan Johnson (Jennifer Garner) – a shark of a businesswoman – or no more access to the family cash flow and so no more chance of getting the billion dollar family fortune. Susan is also daughter and heir to Burt Johnson (Nick Nolte), construction mover-and-shaker.

Arthur is dead set against his mother’s “orders” but his nanny Hobson (Helen Mirren) believes this may change him for the good.

Arthur’s life is suddenly changed when he meets Naomi Quinn (Greta Gerwig) an illegal Manhattan tour guide who wants to be a writer of children’s books and still lives with her parents. He falls in love with her but keeps the matter concerning Susan a secret. Arthur must make a choice – as his choice of woman will ultimately affect his lifestyle.

Helen Mirren takes on John Gielgud’s role from the original, an indication of how the times have changed. However, seeing Ms Mirren who has played all-important roles such as the Queen, donning a Darth Vader mask in order to carry out her duties, was hilarious to say the least.

The film’s reason for being is Russell Brand who, with this film, continues in his quest for Hollywood fame and glory. The film shows off Mr Brand’s style of stand-up comedy in which he makes fun of himself and everything around him.

This he does with a passionate zeal as he seems retain the mannerisms of an eight-year-old a booze and sex-hungry teenage brain, all in the body of a grown man.

The original Arthur (1981) is not a film that has aged gracefully; by today’s standards some of the jokes are pretty lame. What the production does here is make everything revolve around Mr Brand and saddle him with a nice supporting cast.

To be noted is the surprising on-screen chemistry that Mr Brand shows with Helen Mirren even more so than with Jennifer Garner and Greta Gerwig. Ms Garner in particular here is cast against type. This is a choice that works quite well as it makes for a change from the usually sweet and demure types she plays on screen. Ms Gerwig is there to light up the screen while seeing Luiz Guzman dressed up as Robin is priceless.

Relaxed, charming and over the top in a screwball kind of way, Arthur works for the simple reason that the producers remembered to inject quite a good dose of warmth and good natured spirit into the proceedings.