I’m not entirely sure why this film was remade; but it’s enjoyable and frothy as a love story (yeah, okay, I got a bit teary-eyed at the end), and the relationship between Hobson (Mirren) and Arthur is genuine and interesting to watch. Brand is a much more frantic and wired Arthur than Moore (and that’s saying a lot), and that’s not necessarily a good thing. And, unlike the original, which played heavily on the exuberant chemistry between Minnelli and Moore, the remake relies upon the interesting (and more interesting in this adaptation) relationship between Mirren’s Hobson and Brand’s Arthur.
The Blu-ray presentation in 1080p with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 works especially well in the outdoor shots, which burst with crisp color, and in the wedding scene, with its stark blacks and whites. The title sequence as well, with its primary color-comic book styling looks smashing in high definition. The 5.1 DTS audio track does a good job with the often-frenetic alcohol-laced tongue of Mr. Brand’s Arthur. The dialogue is crisp and the musical soundtrack is well blended into an excellent backdrop.
The Blu-ray release comes complete with a standard definition DVD, as well as access to a digital version, suitable for playing on your favorite movie-viewing device. Several extras are also included in two-disc set:
"Arthur Unsupervised!" provides outtakes as wells as the usual behind-the-scenes stuff, and interviews with the cast and creative team—and of course more of Brand’s high-energy antics.
"Additional Footage" includes deleted scenes, including Arthur’s efforts in acquiring a real job and moments between him and minder Hobson.
"Gag Reel" is just what you think: more riffing—and give and take between Brand and Mirren.
If you are a fan of Russell Brand and his type of comedy, you’ll enjoy this 2011 take on the original Arthur. It plays as a wild comedy, a chick flick, and has touches of heartfelt character drama, especially between Hobson and her Arthur.
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