In this update of the 1981 comedy, immature Arthur Bach (Russell Brand) is in line to run the family business, but with his reputation for irresponsible, booze-fuelled antics, Vivienne Bach (Geraldine James) is loath to give her son such responsibility.
Vivienne devises a plan whereby Arthur and her assistant Susan (Jennifer Garner) will marry, thus keeping the company under Susan's stable leadership. Arthur objects, but when Vivienne threatens to cut off his $950million inheritance, the spoilt slacker sees no choice but to comply. However Arthur finds himself in a quandary, when, the next day, he falls head over heels for free-spirited aspiring author Naomi (Greta Gerwig).
Brand steps into the shoes of Dudley Moore as the eponymous boozed-up billionaire in this fun update of the 1981 comedy. Though the comic faces a considerable challenge in carrying an entire film for the first time, his infectious exuberance and hard-living persona are well-suited to the role. He is accompanied too by a game supporting cast, including Mirren as Arthur's butler-cum-babysitter Hobson, Luis Guzman as his chauffer Bitterman and Nick Nolte as Susan's intimidating father Burt.
There's fine comedy calibre behind the scenes, with a script written by Peter Baynham, and director Jason Winer, who's been behind the camera on the brilliant Modern Family.
Although Arthur wasn't a hit with critics, with a role in upcoming A-list musical Rock of Ages, it doesn't seem to have halted Brand's ascent to Hollywood stardom.
Arthur is a Film programme that first aired in 2011 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
