Shawnee Mission West's online student newspaper

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Shawnee Mission West's online student newspaper

smwest.com

Shawnee Mission West's online student newspaper

smwest.com

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photo by Malcom Luna

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Remaking A Classic

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Arthur Bach (Russell Brand) is charming, filthy rich, and an insufferable drunk. The heir to the Bach Empire, Arthur spends his days seducing women and buying as many cars as possible instead of assisting his mother Vivienne (Geraldine James) in his proper duties. Under the watchful eye of his nanny and best friend Hobson (Helen Mirren), Arthur continues his public escapades with random women and too much alcohol. When Vivienne threatens to cut Arthur off from the family fortune, he is forced to marry the sensible heiress Susan Johnson (Jennifer Garner). The only problem is Arthur despises Susan, and quickly meets the quirky Naomi Quinn (Great Gerwig), an unlicensed tour guide who likes to have tourists lie on the floor of Grand Central Station and look at the ceiling.

A remake of the 1981 version that won two Academy Awards, the remake is not exactly comic genius. What makes the movie worth seeing comes in a six foot one package complete with a cheeky British accent- Russell Brand. As Arthur Bach, Brand plays an immature playboy with a big heart and a love for the absurd. It is impossible to hate Arthur; you may hate his addictions and multiple women, or reckless attitude towards money, but Arthur may be the only lovable millionaire. Ever. What Arthur lacks in responsibility he makes up for in gusto and compassion.

Aside from Brand, the movie is forgettable. Brand delivers his one-liners and ridiculous behavior with heart. Mirren provides the voice of reason, the transcendent message about life. Garner is simply the Devil disguised as a crazy ex- girlfriend. Gerwig is the light at the end of the tunnel for Arthur. There is no doubt that the chemistry between Gerwig and Brand is infectious; Arthur and Naomi make the perfect, slightly dysfunctional couple. Their relationship is a nice break from the typical storybook ending, though two oddballs finding each other and going on oddball adventures is not exactly a revolutionary idea.

Arthur is just another funny movie. It was enjoyable, Brand’s performance was a delight, but it was not enough to make the movie memorable.

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Remaking A Classic