Movie Review: Arthur

British comedian Russell Brand's rise continues with this star vehicle remake of the Dudley Moore 1981 comedy hit.

Brand plays the wayward heir to a vast business empire whose drunken shenanigans cause endless embarrassment for his mother.

Just when he resigns himself to an unfulfilled life with an "appropriate" fiancee (Jennifer Garner), he meets the free-spirited Naomi (Greta Gerwig).

The loud and lively Brand is a little grating at times throughout this movie, which benefits greatly from the naturalistic Gerwig's understated presence. Helen Mirren's role is mired in sentimentality, and Garner mainly embarrasses herself. A two-scene cameo from a healthy-looking Nick Nolte is distracting more than anything.

I laughed a bit, but I never cared.

LOWDOWN

Stars: 2.5/5
Cast: Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner
Director: Jason Winer
Running time: 110 mins
Rating: PG (Violence and course language)

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