Russell Brand and Helen Mirren are teaming up for “Arthur,” a re-imagining of the 1981 smash starring Dudley Moore.
Warner Bros. announced the film’s production is underway via press release, but there’s one thing glaringly missing from the statement.
Alcohol.
Here’s the description of the film in the release:
Brand stars as Arthur Bach, a man who has always relied on two things to get by: his limitless fortune and the good sense of lifelong nanny Hobson (Mirren) to keep him out of trouble. Now he faces his biggest challenge, choosing between an arranged marriage that will ensure his lavish lifestyle or an uncertain future with the one thing money can’t buy—Naomi (Greta Gerwig), the only woman he has ever loved. With Naomi’s inspiration and some unconventional help from Hobson, Arthur will take the most expensive risk of his life and finally learn what it means to become a man, in this re-imagining of the 1981 classic.
The original “Arthur” was a drunk, a rich, spoiled drunk who sobered up when he met the woman of his dreams, played by Liza Minelli.
It seemed odd that Hollywood would remake a movie like “Arthur” in the first place. How would the story jibe with our P.C. culture? Would he take 12 steps to sobriety? How would the issue be handled?
WWTW is contacting the studio to see if there’s anything else they can share about the film – and if alcohol will play a role in the new story. I’ll update this post accordingly.
It could be drinking will play a role in the finished film and the press release just didn’t mention that factor. We shall see.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Why do they think that it sounds better when they call it a “reimagining” rather than what it really is…a remake? Regardless of what they call this, it’s pure crap…and it smells like crap. And Brand is taking a crap on Dudley Moore.
Sorry for being crass, but this movie was perfect back in 1981 and it still holds up perfectly today. The pairing of Moore and Sir John Gielgud was sublime and genious. I could watch this movie over and over and over again and still laugh at the beautifully delivered one-liners from Gielgud (“…usually one must go to a bowling alley to meet a woman of your stature”).
Yes, I know everyone says Brand, as an actor, was funny in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and apparently he is funny in “Get Him To The Greek”. But as a person and as a stand-up comedian, he’s inane, boring, self-absorbed, and pathetic.
Sigh…I give up. This is why I don’t spend money at movie theaters any more.