More Dudley Moore

After enjoying Bedazzled, I felt we should try out Arthur. Was this a mistake?

First, I don't really like Dudley Moore. He just seems like such a little weasel. Second, I don't really like Liza Minelli. Like her mother, she comes across a little too intense sometimes, a little too real.

Arthurt (Moore) is a drunk, selfish, giggling, irresponsible millionaire. His family wants him to marry the daughter of another millionaire, but he falls in love with kooky, not-rich, klepto Liza Minelli. Some people might find this charming, but I don't know. Cinema is full of happy-go-lucky drunks - George and Marian Kirby in Topper died while driving drunk and their ghosts are still tippling. Other drunks are sadder, deeper, but still charming, like Hepburn's brother in Holiday. Arthur is just creepy.

What saves the movie for me is Sir John Gielgud, who plays Arthur's butler. He is the perfect butler, who insults Arthur, swats him on the head (after removing Arthur's tophat), and truly loves him. Arthur reciprocates this love, and that comes close to redeeming him.

So, in conclusion, I look forward to Arthur 2: On the Rocks.