Exit Dudley Moore, enter Russell Brand. Thirty years ago the impish Moore won our hearts with his endearing portrayal of the mega-rich and irresponsible young drunkard, Arthur Bach.
Brand is the perfect man to bring Arthur back on to our screens and into our hearts.
Arthur is a character that requires an
actor with strong comedic talent, such is his weird and wonderful existence.
Brand, like Moore a generation ago, is a unique talent and has a ready ability to generate laughter.
Arthur's story is simple one - a rich boy who must settle down and get married if he wants to remain heir to a huge family fortune.
But Arthur is a party boy at heart, and responsibility is not a word he knows much about.
With Hobson (Helen Mirren) as his nanny and nursemaid, and as much money as he wants, Arthur doesn't have too many cares in the world.
That is until his mother (Geraldine James) decides it is time he settled down and married hard-nosed corporate climber Susan (Jennifer Garner).
Arthur has the choice - do as he is told, or be cut off from the family money.
Complicating his decision is fresh-faced Naomi (Greta Gerwig), who wins his heart after a chance meeting.
So Arthur is caught between his heart and his head.
Slightly lacking the genius of the original, with no Sir John Gielgud (Hobson) or Liza Minnelli (Arthur's love interest), Brand carries the day with his irreverent brand of humour.
This is good fun.
3.5/5
(PG), 120 minutes
