Arthur with Russell Brand

Written by Jonathan Jacobs

Arthur is a mish mash, a hodge-podge, a potpourri of the most lopsided, underhanded, highfalutin, ill-conceived, ill-timed, startling humor I have ever watched onscreen. It would seem that the Brits from across the pond have launched an invasion of California and have de facto conquered Hollywood. Let’s face it, Russell Brand is as astonishing as he is interesting. He is infinitely talented and most important to me, he is ARTICULATE. I will confess I absolutely hate this film (Arthur), but I love elements of it at the same time. How can I reconcile these antithetical sentiments? Read on and find out homeboys!

This is not your grandfather’s Arthur (the original classic debuted in 1981), and Russell Brand is no Dudley Moore. Brand is capable of being intelligently vulgar, mind-bogglingly ingenious (despite being raunchy), puerile and absolutely disgusting. Many changes have been made to the original plotline to conform to 2011 standards and practices. Nevertheless, the major storyline developments remain similar. Arthur (Brand) is an alcoholic. He spends his days riding around in the Batmobile while intoxicated (along with his pot-bellied butler/chauffeur Bitterman played by Luis Guzman). Laconically put, Arthur is a wastrel busy spending his filthy rich life doing absolutely nothing. Being productive is his kryptonite. However, his childish urges, splendidly witty jokes, and boyish antics are undergirded by something surprising. Arthur is a sweet and kind human being. He only wants to be loved and to love right back.

Since the age of three, after his father died, Arthur’s mother Vivienne (Geraldine James) retained the services of a nanny to look after him. Hobson is played by the critically acclaimed actress Helen Mirren. For the purposes of the storyline Hobson is terminally ill, though at first she keeps this a secret. She loves Arthur as she would her own son. They are both playmates and best friends. Hobson looks after him no matter what complications his transgressions bring into their lives. Two events occur simultaneously that threaten to destroy the delicate balancing act Arthur has made of his life.

First, Vivienne has grown weary of her son’s antics and has decided to wed him to fellow Bach Corporation business associate Susan (Jennifer Garner fresh off some salient plastic surgery). Susan is manipulative, power hungry, desperate to inherit a fortune, and she is a wild one in the bedroom. Unfortunately, Arthur absolutely hates her, and the very thought of having to be betrothed to her wickedness further addicts him to alcohol (he never leaves without that trusty flask). While Arthur is busy feeling trapped, as his mother has demanded he marry Susan or forfeit 900 million dollars in inheritance money, he meets the woman of his dreams by chance. Naomi (Greta Gerwig) is a counterfeit tour guide working the Grand Central area in NYC, and she is her father’s caretaker. Her dream is to become a published children’s author.

Arthur both impresses and depresses Naomi with his profligate spending. He shows her a rare sweetness and an eccentricity that she feels comfortable with. However, for most of their courtship he lies about being engaged to Susan and this falsehood, once revealed, drives her away. Hobson is equally as impressed with the young lady and gives the two her blessing before her tragic death. In a desperate but heartfelt effort to reform before he loses the woman of his dreams, Arthur attempts to diminish his addiction to liquor and to work for a living as a failsafe against being cut-off.

Arthur is unlike any movie I have seen before. The jokes rarely connect as they have no punch line. Every stunt is intended to have massive shock value. The humor is deeply intellectual but it is so long-winded that the laughter is too-often lost in the Shakespearean shuffle. Russell Brand is simply limitless, he can do anything. Helen Mirren is like a chameleon, she can play any role to perfection. Greta Gerwig is a disaster that has already appeared in two films that she practically ruined single-handedly (the other is Greenberg). Nick Nolte (he plays Susan’s brutish father) looks drunk and gruff and is hilarious as a result (though he is a real life alcoholic!). I hesitate to recommend Arthur to my readers but I am sure the previews have caused everyone to feel some measure of curiosity. Do not let me stop you but don’t say I didn’t give you fair warning!