Arthur Review Thread (Use Spoiler Tags)

[Lord_Stewie]

Hey,

So Jason Winer is helming the remake of Arthur.

1981 Dudley Moore version's:

Arthur is the most quotable drunk millionaire that is likely to ever steal your heart. Dudley Moore portrays Arthur, a thirty year old child who will inherit 750 million dollars if he complies with his family's demands and marries the woman of their choosing. Arthur falls in love with Linda, a tie stealing waitress from Queens (Liza Minnelli) and has to choose between true love and his inheritance. Being caught between The Moon & New York City is one thing, but Arthur is caught between a rock and a hard place when his father and fellow millionaire Burt Johnson plot to have him marry Burt's daughter, Susan. If he doesn't he loses the 3/4 of a billion dollar family fortune of his father and Aunt Martha. But Arthur gets a push in the right direction from his Gentleman's Gentleman, Hobson (Sir John Gielgud).

THE REMAKE

[QUOTE]Since we're solely concerned with the movers, shakers and activity in the film industry, there's usually not that much opportunity to discuss film's little sister: the television. Fortunately, some recent news will let me praise and direct your attention to one of the best comedy series on television as THR reports that director Jason Winer (seen above), who directed the pilot and nine episodes of ABC's "Modern Family," has signed on to direct Russell Brand in the remake of the classic 1981 Dudley Moore comedy Arthur. This was first announced back in 2008 and has a script written by Peter Baynham, who helped write Borat and Brüno.

There just might be hope for this remake after all. With a bold and daring comic such as Brand, and a writer who is all too familiar with dirty comedy working with a director responsible for one of the funniest family sitcoms in recent years, I can't help but get a little excited. Still, these three have very big shoes to fill as the original movie, which followed a boozy playboy rascal who is set to inherit a fortune if he marries an heiress his family thinks will make something out of him, earned Dudley Moore and writer/director Steve Gordon Oscar nominations, and supporting actor John Gielgud even won one.
/QUOTE]

Enjoy.

[Chloenator]

Sorry for ressurecting an old thread, but I just recently saw the trailer for the new remake of Arthur and I must say it looks horrible! I'm sorry, but I cannot stand Russel Brand at all! I don't think he's the least bit funny. He's pretty annoying to me, actually. I definately will not be going to see it. It looks really stupid to me.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Fragile Line

Sorry for ressurecting an old thread, but I just recently saw the trailer for the new remake of Arthur and I must say it looks horrible! I'm sorry, but I cannot stand Russel Brand at all! I don't think he's the least bit funny. He's pretty annoying to me, actually. I definately will not be going to see it. It looks really stupid to me.

I've only seen the one shot on Yahoo, where Brand in his scraggly hair, tux and top hat (??--hey, you're not Dudley Moore, Russ, don't try to overdo the original-movie kissups!) looks like some bad escapee from an Anne Rice novel, and was afraid to download the trailer.

It was never this hard to convince Vin Diesel or Dane Cook that we didn't want them to make films...Why is it so hard getting through to THIS idiot?
We've still got a CGI and another comedy to go before we can even hint to him to go home.

[Holmes]

I enjoyed this, at least more than most critics...still, I had reservations.

I shall open this review of the new, Russell Brand-led version of Arthur by disclosing I have seen the original with Dudley Moore, but not in a decade. I recall watching it on television when I was ten or eleven years old. While I remember certain details and scenes, it's not a film fresh in my mind or close to my heart. So I can only review director Jason Winer's update as a standalone film, rather than from a place of nostalgic outrage ("how dare modern Hollywood touch such a classic '80s comedy!").

Arthur (Brand) is the louche, alcoholic son of a multi-millionaire (Geraldine James). With live-in nurse/surrogate mother Hobson (Helen Mirren) in tow, he leads a fast-paced, extravagant, and meaningless whirlwind of a life. His wanton hedonism, however, embarrasses his icy birth mother, who offers him an ultimatum: wed Susan (Jennifer Garner), the despicable and ambitious daughter of a rich blue-collar contractor (Nick Nolte), or lose his inheritance. Further complicating matters is his growing love of Naomi (Greta Gerwig), a free-spirited Queens girl who gives unofficial tours of Grand Central Terminal and aspires to write for children.

Watching this film was a curious experience. Beyond a few early scenes--Arthur, using different voices, bidding against himself at an auction house--it's almost never hilarious. Winer and screenwriter Peter Baynham (Borat) don't seem to have a firm grip on the material. The pacing is lax, for example, and the negative side of Arthur's alcoholism is shied away from more than it should have been.

Yet I never found the film to be a displeasure, mostly because of the stellar stars. I'm an avowed fan of Russell Brand, and it's been exciting watching him rise to the A-list in America. The excited (at times soulful) eyes, the disorderly head of hair, the appealing cockney accent--he's a performer with boundless energy and wit. The material here isn't nearly as sharp or worthwhile as last year's Get Him to the Greek, but Brand is talented enough to compensate. He injects a great deal of vim and vigor into the oft-vanilla proceedings. Every bit his match is Greta Gerwig, the indie starlet who gave one of my favorite recent performances opposite Ben Stiller in Greenberg. She has such a warm, open, and natural presence. Brand and Gerwig share an easy chemistry. There is a playful sweetness to their scenes together, including one where he rents Grand Central and stages a romantic evening for her (complete with acrobats and personalized Pez dispensers).

As Hobson, the grand Helen Mirren gives a more or less faultless performances. She won't win an Oscar as John Gielgud did for portraying the original Arthur's butler, but she delivers her biting lines well, and there is always compassion in her eyes. I, alas, can't offer similar praise to Jennifer Garner. I don't necessarily blame the actress, though. She's just been saddled with an awful, awful role. Susan is a one-note shrew with almost no redeeming qualities. Her scenes are airless, a chore to sit through. Had this antagonist been written with more complexity and humanity, I'm sure Garner could have mustered a more appealing performance. The same can be said of Nick Nolte, who is squandered in a role best described as extraneous and plain old strange. (There is a scene where he grabs hold of Arthur and pushes his face closer and closer to a saw. You almost forget you're watching a PG-13 romantic comedy.)

Full review here: http://www.worldofkj.com/article.php?i=180

[snowball_iv]

Yeah, I seen this movie Monday night, and was pleasantly surprised. I thought the movie was pretty good. There was alot more drama than I expected. I really want to check the original now and see how that one stacks up to this one. I will give this a 3.5 out 5.

[RonSwanson]

This movie was seriously good...and the entire theater I was in was laughing. Someone needs to explain what is bad about this movie because I couldn't find a single thing wrong with it. Maybe the inclusion of Nick Nolte's role, seemed a bit pointless. Otherwise....Excellent performances by Mirren and Brand.

8/10

A refreshing comedy in this day and age of Knocked Ups and Your Highnesses.

[Holmes]

Wait, in this age of "Knocked Ups?"

Knocked Up is way funnier (and more honest, and more character-driven) than the Arthur remake. Knocked Up is the kind of mainstream comedy all others should aspire to.

[RonSwanson]

Originally Posted by Holmes

Wait, in this age of "Knocked Ups?"

Knocked Up is way funnier (and more honest, and more character-driven) than the Arthur remake. Knocked Up is the kind of mainstream comedy all others should aspire to.

I own Knocked Up and like it a lot. But if you are denying it relies on filthy and disgusting jokes, you're kidding yourself. It's a very immature movie with nothing but a cheap facade instead of any real meaning. Not that comedies need real meaning, but Knocked Up acts like it had one. Arthur was a hundred times better, and more people should go see it. I've now seen it twice with two different groups of people...and in both instances the theater clearly enjoyed it thoroughly. The critics were too caught up in the fact that this was a 'remake' and never gave it a chance. They were wrong...period.

If you believe Knocked Up was more character driven...well, then I don't believe for a second that you saw Arthur. Whether you believe Knocked Up was funnier is another thing all together - an opinion I would never argue with since comedy is different for everyone. But more character driven? Wow. So go to the theaters and check it out.

[cooltoy]

saw it last night with the wife. loved it. i can only assume the people that dont like this movie either A. are not fond of Mr. Brands comedy stylings or B. love the original too much to give this any sort of chance at all. Movie was very entertaining and funny. I recommend it highly!

[starwarsagent]

I wont be seeing this...I saw Dudley moore live at the arsenio Hall Show in LA. He killed himself drinking..

this new Arthus movie looks horrible and I played poker with him at planet hollywood..he's really creepy looking.

[KilloWertz]

Shouldn't there be a poll for this (and Your Highness)?

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by killowertz

Shouldn't there be a poll for this (and Your Highness)?

I've asked Diesel but he's slacking this weekend

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I've asked Diesel but he's slacking this weekend

Oh, well, then I guess we'll never see the polls for both movies...

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by killowertz

Oh, well, then I guess we'll never see the polls for both movies...

A poll for Hanna as well

[Foggy]

Poll is now up!

[Foggy]

Any more desperate votes?

[Walts Ghost]

Saw it on Monday. thought it was pretty good. Not the best, but not terrible. I like the original more still. But it was entertaining,

3/5

[Foggy]

We need one more vote