Arthur (English)

Larry Brezner,Kevin

McCormick,Chris Bender,Michael Tadross

Director:

Jason Winer

Writers:

Peter Baynham

Cast:

Russell Brand,

Helen Mirren,Jennifer Garner,Greta Gerwig,Nick Nolte,Luis Guzman,Geraldine James

Arthur is a remake of the 1981 film of the same name starring Dudley Moore,John Gielgud and Liza Minelli.

Arthur Bach is immensely wealthy and drinks too much,and overindulges in giddy,free-spirited ways. His mother Vivienne decides that he needs to settle down. So she gives Arthur a fierce ultimatum — marry Susan Johnson or face being disinherited and financially cut off completely. Susan wants him for his name; she may be rich,but she’s not welcomed into the upper crust because her father worked his way up in construction. While pondering the possibility of being poor,Arthur runs into Naomi Quinn. She conducts illegal tours of New York City; while hoping to become a writer of children’s books. Though Arthur’s henpecking nanny Hobson looks on in harsh disapproval,Arthur and Naomi start dating. Naomi cares little about Arthur’s riches and is remarkably forgiving of his irregularities. He faces his biggest challenge – choosing between an arranged marriage that will ensure his lavish lifestyle or an uncertain future with the one thing money can’t buy,Naomi,the only woman he has ever loved. With Naomi’s inspiration and some unconventional help from Hobson,Arthur takes the most expensive risk of his life and finally learns what it means to become a responsible man.

Arthur is a fairly close remake of the seminal 1981 Dudley Moore film. But comparisons are odious; it requires that one see the Russell Brand-Helen Mirren Arthur without a backward glance. Arthur is not laugh-out-loud funny,but the dialogue is well-written and quick-witted and Brand and Mirren do it ample justice.

The first film by the late writer-director Steve Gordon was a massive hit and is today regarded as an iconic film of the early ’80s. So anyone trying to repeat its singular success is in for quite a challenge. Director Jason Winer and writer Peter Baynham have handled the remake with some degree of proficiency. The Arthur of the 21st century may not be an iconic comedy,but it has its own forte in scenes and moments.

Greta Gerwig steps into Liza Minelli’s role,and she gives it the warmth and charm as the feel-good factor in Arthur’s addled life. Russell Brand has tried hard from going over the top – and though loud at times,he’s really quite commendable. Helen Mirren,without batting an eyelash,has presence and authority (so like John Gielgud) — here’s a nanny from Arthur’s childhood,so she should be expected to love him in a more tender way,which she does. Nick Nolte is shortchanged with a miniscule role,yet he comes out well.

The acting is uniformly good,with each of cast getting a moment here and there. But the movie meanders a bit. But consider the uphill battle this movie faced,and the lingering legacy it had to match,Arthur manages to score on good note. Ideally this film should be viewed as a standalone and not as remake.

RATING :

One for performances and one for witty dialogues and an almost true-to-original remake.