Movie Review: Arthur

Coming from the perspective of someone who didn't see the original movie and went looking for some light-hearted goofiness, this film was just exactly what I wanted. Yes, I found Arthur very appealing, maybe because I approached the film as something new - no comparisons whatsoever.

The premise of the film was so outlandish - as to be almost stupid - and a movie so centralized around spending money and drinking heavily was an indulgence in itself, but it shockingly had a lot of heart in it. I mean, I shouldn't have been moved by anyone in this film - this was supposed to be a comedy, along with Russell Brand's style of humor - and I was almost in tears at several points in the movie. Operative word, almost. Haha.

Indeed, the actors were the core of this movie. Russell Brand, to me, was absolutely adorable as the lead. I loved the banter he engages and he actually added depth to the character who could have easily been one-dimensional. Also, he exhibited quite a range of emotion throughout the film and it was a pleasant surprise. Jennifer Garner seemed out of place most of the time, but I thought she did better than I expected.

Now, I wasn't familiar with Greta Gerwig, but I thought she presented a fresh vibe to the movie. She seemed genuine, deep, innocent and incredibly adorable as well. Helen Mirren, on the other hand, stole the show for the most part. She was charming, sophisticated and she gave the film an entirely new level of likability. I also loved the fact that when a scene had to become serious and there's a need for a real actor to step up, Helen Mirren was there and was more than qualified for the job. Frankly, Brand and Mirren's chemistry was fantastic.

All in all, I honestly think that one's enjoyment of Arthur will all depend on how much one like Russell Brand and his style. But personally, this film took me by complete surprise. It had it's heart in the right place and the message was actually a good one. The delivery was just a little wacky, but hey, sometimes we all need a little bit of crazy in our lives no?