Arthur is not your average Russell Brand comedic character. He sports his long hair, British accent, and loose clothing just as he does in all his other movies, but this remake of a 1981 film of the same name brings out a different side of Brand.

The movie Arthur, released April 8, builds on Arthur’s internal conflict in choosing between a materialistic mother and fiancé, and an enthusiastic friend and caretaker. Arthur the character is introduced as a naive adult who relies on his parents’ money and nanny’s support to get through a crazy life of drinking and spending. As the movie progresses, Arthur starts to understand what reality is, and what life would be like without endless money.

Other cast members include Hobson the nanny, played by Academy Award winner Helen Mirren; Arthur’s love interest Naomi (Greta Gerwig); Arthur’s fiancé Susan (Jennifer Garner); and Arthur’s mother Vivienne (Geraldine James). Mirren’s and Gerwig’s acting adds to the emotional appeal of the comedy. Playing antagonistic roles, Garner and James successfully convince the audience that they have no sympathy or pity for the protagonist.
Not up to par with expectations, the movie’s start is slow. There is some laughter derived from the constant drunkenness of the protagonist, which causes him to engage in ridiculous activities, such as parading around town in a bat-mobile. Brand does his routine of being an alcoholic, but unlike his other films, he does not play the cool, collected character but rather an insanely spoiled, spendthrift one.

Simply stated, the acting is well done. Brand portrays the childish character well through his various spontaneous mannerisms and childlike sense of humor. The audience becomes convinced that Arthur truly is a spoiled brat.

The plot itself was surprising but delightfully so. The movie starts out with cheap comedy but blossoms into a Bildungsroman-type narrative of Arthur discovering love. The progression is extremely believable to a viewer and the entire cast carries the audience along on Arthur’s journey.

One downside of the movie was the city’s unrealistic landscape. Arthur’s gold apartment complex stands out in a crowded city, and his future father-in-law’s new building is also located at an impractical spot close to Arthur’s apartment. Although it adds to the plot line, the exaggerated architecture takes away from the impact.

Overall, this movie is worth seeing. The slow start was not as humorous as it could have been. At some points in the movie, the amount of money Arthur had and the extent of his childish behavior as a full grown adult seem unrealistic. But Russell Brand, once again, makes the movie a must-see.