Arthur (2011)
Average Rating: 4.4/10
Reviews Counted: 183
Fresh: 48 | Rotten: 135
An irritating, unnecessary remake that demonstrates the libertine charm Russell Brand exudes in supporting roles turn against him when he's star of the show.
Average Rating: 4.5/10
Critic Reviews: 39
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 31
An irritating, unnecessary remake that demonstrates the libertine charm Russell Brand exudes in supporting roles turn against him when he's star of the show.
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Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 43,876
Movie Info
In this fresh new look at a classic story, Russell Brand reinvents the role of loveable billionaire Arthur Bach, an irresponsible charmer who has always relied on two things to get by: his limitless fortune and the good sense of his lifelong nanny and best friend Hobson (Helen Mirren), to keep him out of trouble. Kind-hearted, fun-loving, and utterly without purpose, Arthur spends every day in the heedless pursuit of amusement. But when his unpredictable public image threatens the staid
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Cast
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Russell Brand
Arthur, Arthur Bach -
Helen Mirren
Hobson -
Greta Gerwig
Naomi -
Jennifer Garner
Susan -
Geraldine James
Vivienne -
Luis Guzman
Bitterman -
Nick Nolte
Burt Johnson -
Christina Calph
Tiffany -
Murphy Guyer
Officer Kaplan -
Jose Ramon Rosario
Employment Clerk -
John Hodgman
Candy Store Manager -
Scott Adsit
Gummy Bear Man -
Evander Holyfield
Boxing Trainer -
Peter Van Wagner
Naomi's Dad -
Robert Clohessy
Veteran Cop -
Ed Herbstman
Rookie Cop -
Jared Parker
Wedding Kid -
Tom Toner
Wedding Priest -
Richard Bekins
Chancellor -
Matt Malloy
Spoon Guy -
Nigel Barker
Photographer -
Tuffy Questell
Tito -
Sara Chase
Journalist #1 -
Ali Farahnakian
Journalist #2 -
Kimberly Pauley
Journalist #3 -
Brian McElhaney
College Student -
Charlie Hewson
Receptionist/Best Man -
Peter Brouwer
Auctioneer -
Saul Stein
Officer #2 -
Stink Fisher
Foreman -
Debbie Lee Jones
Kissed Woman -
Pascal Yen-Pfister
Maitre D' -
Dylan Clark Marshall
Boy on Tour -
Steve Rosen
Grand Central Waiter -
Leslie Hendrix
Alice Johnson -
George Feaster
James -
Ed Jewett
Group Leader -
John Carrafa
Choreographer -
Jennie Eisenhower
Maid of Honor -
Sean G. Tarjoto
Bookstore Clerk -
Pamela Holden Stewart
Librarian -
Skai Jackson
Library Girl #1 -
Tori Feinstein
Library Girl #2 -
Jackson Nicoll
Library Boy #1 -
Caden Draper
Library Boy #2 -
Jase Draper
Library Boy #3
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Arthur Trailer & Photos
All Critics (185) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (135) | DVD (13)
A pitiable remake of the sloshed "classic" from 1981.
Top CriticA blander, more responsible 'Arthur' with far fewer laughs and, be warned, a painful update on the classic Burt Bacharach title tune over the end credits.
Russell Brand gives a career-killing performance.
It's amazing how a lifeless, pointless remake can provoke pangs of nostalgia about a mediocre movie. Such is the case with Arthur.
[An] innocuous, blandly therapeutic remake of a comedy that wasn't exactly edgy to begin with.
I don't buy the notion that this is all a lavish fantasy to cheer us in troubled times. It's too clueless and condescending for that.
The Arthur remake seems to follow the recipe as best it can, but will leave viewers wishing they had just eaten at home. It has enough one liners to keep the movie moving along, but it lacks the heart and depth that Moore's charm brought to the role
So Russell Brand wrecked his marriage to Katy Perry...over this?
Slapstick dramedy fans will likely get some laughs out of the Arthur remake but the film is stuck in the same naïve adolescence as its titular character.
Gives Brand ample opportunity and excuse to trot out his wisecracking, chemically-addled man-child schtick in a sturdy and believable narrative context.
In this rehash of the 1981 smash - which featured fellow English comic Dudley Moore in the title role - Brand looks and sounds comparatively bland.
There is no real reason for this movie to exist, but with Brand's winning star turn, it's likable and its heart is in the right place.
Russell Brand's a funny guy. But he has real trouble when he tries to spread his dramatic wings into any moment that doesn't land on a punch line.
Mirren nearly saves the movie as much as Nolte's bizarre cameos nearly destroy it.
Maybe Russell Brand's lot in life is to play raging substance abusers who eventually are redeemed.
Whatever was inherently funny about the original film just doesn't work here.
One wonders why time and effort was put into this sorry wannabe, considering that maintaining the tone of the source material clearly wasn't of much interest to anyone.
The problem is that our soliloquising Cockney comic as the "world's only loveable billionaire" (as the poster has it) seems too much like a child stamping his feet, demanding that love.
If you're not wedded to Dud's trust fund drunk, there's no reason not to enjoy this sweet and affectionate retread.
Russell Brand steps into Dudley Moore's old shoes and finds an uncomfortable fit.
The movie is as hollow as his playboy lifestyle.
This rehash of the 1981 comedy seems particularly ill-timed, as it's no longer fun to laugh at irresponsible drunks, especially when they're billionaires
It's depressing to watch something that starts out with so much promise devolve into genre fodder.
Although it's about a quarter of an hour longer, Arthur is surprisingly faithful to the original and brings little of its own to the table.
This is far from a sophisticated movie but the simplicity of the story allows it to have a lot of fun playing with the outrageous characters and silly sight gags.
Go-nowhere remake is worse in every way
Audience Reviews for Arthur
Super Reviewer
In the case of Arthur, the remake, you have a well loved tale from 30+ years ago. Perhaps when pitching this film you could argue that a couple of generations have passed since then, and we've got this hot actor who is box office gold... and I suppose that works to a degree. But speaking as one not of the demographic, and having seen the first film and enjoyed Dudley Moore's antics, my repeat viewing of the remake comes from an admittedly skewed lens. That being said, though the tale is creaky around the edges, there is enough witty dialog and bon mots to make this a worthwhile viewing - and it's got Helen Mirren, so that alone should hold your interest.
Russell Brand holds his own as Arthur in my opinion, and Jennifer Garner is sufficiently waspy in her villainous turn as the woman Arthur is condemned to marry. Greta Gerwig, in the Liza Minneli role comes from a different angle - more sweetness than edgy, but her acting here is sincere. The film totally wastes the great comic talent of Luis Guzman, giving him not much to do other than wear a hilarious Robin costume at the film's intro. Speaking of wasting talent - Nick Nolte... what the heck was he doing here, slumming as a threatening buffoon?
But even though I found the last half of the film a bit draggy - too much plot getting in the way of the fun - there were enough funny bits of dialog coming out of Brand's mouth and enough of Helen Mirren being... Helen Mirren, to give this a marginal passing grade - you could do far worse if you're looking for a bit of light humor.
Super Reviewer
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- Arthur: Oh hello Vivienne! I remember you from when I used to live in your whomb!
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- Susan: [kisses Arthur]
- Arthur: What was that?!
- Susan: A french kiss...
- Arthur: You sure? The french always surrender! That was decidedly German.
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- Arthur: Vivienne! Susienne! Satan! Susan!
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- Arthur: Don't blame Bitterman! He had a hell of a struggle to get me out of the bath!
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- Arthur: It's orphan Annie! As a man!! Orphan Mannie!
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- Hobson: Did you kill Minnie mouse or did she surrender her dress willingly?
- Naomi: If it helps she didn't suffer.
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April 8, 2011:
Critics Consensus: Arthur Is On The RocksThis week at the movies, we've got an eccentric imbiber (Arthur, starring Russell Brand and Greta...
April 7, 2011:
Helen Mirren Arthur InterviewThe new "Arthur" may not be getting the best reviews, but it still has Helen Mirren going for it --...
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Featured
Movie: ID: 771190128 Title: Arthur Release Date: 2011-04-08 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 3 Status: 1
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Foreign Titles
- Arthur (2011) (CA)
- Arthur, un amour de Milliardaire (FR)
