Arthur Blu-ray DVD Combo
Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Greta Gerwig
Directed by Jason Winer
Warner Home Video 2011
110 minutes
It is impossible to do a better Arthur than the original Arthur with Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli, and John Gielgud. The 2011 Arthur starring Russell Brand does not match the original’s magic but does entertain. Arthur Blu-ray DVD and digital copy combo has a few special features; a very short gag reel, Arthur Unsupervised, a sort of behind the scenes, and Additonal scenes.
This Arthur remake sticks pretty close to the original story with a couple of minor updates. Arthur is a drunk playboy given an ultimatum by his mother to smarten up and get married to Jennifer Garner or lose all his money. At first Arthur goes along with it but he falls in love with a girl from Queens and that complicates things. Meanwhile his nanny, Hobson (Helen Mirren) keeps an eye out for him.
The big difference is Brand’s Arthur is not as obviously drunk or wild as the original. In fact, Brand is, believe it or not, a little too restrained in this movie. Hobson is not as caustic as in the original. Though Greta Gerwig is good as the love interest and almost plays Zooey Deschanel (Hitchhiker’s Guide) she does not quite manage the wrong side of the tracks touch required for the part.
If you have not seen the original Arthur, this remake is probably a bit better than it is if you have seen the Dudley Moore version.
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