Evander, if he's not out of this ring in one minute I'll bite your other ear off.
-Hobson

I actually liked Russell Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. In those R rated films he played a billionaire rock star who was always drunk or high on drugs. In Arthur, a PG-13 film, he plays a billionaire that is always drunk. It's missing the R rating, rock star and drugs.

Ok of course it didn't need that, and perhaps Brand is a one trick pony. That's neither here nor there. This film wouldn't have worked with a different actor in the role either way. The main problem I think is that the director, Jason Winer, was in over his head. He's only directed television, mostly sitcoms, and it clearly shows in the movie. This does not feel like a feature film comedy, it feels like a made for TV movie.

The one surprise in the film though is the chemistry between Russell Brand and Helen Mirren. I know it probably has more to do with the talented Mirren and less with Brand, but they were fun to watch together nonetheless. No matter though, because the film still ends up being a huge missed opportunity.