Many students only know Russel Brand as the creepy-faced British man who married Katy Perry. However, in the comedy Arthur, about a childish heir to a 90 billion dollar fortune, Brand shines in the leading role.
Brand began his career as a comedian in the British media. After quickly gaining fame, Brand decided to branch out into singing, acting, and writing.
Brand’s history of substance abuse makes him able to relate more to his character’s situation. In an interview Brand joked, “I am such a thorough actor that I did two decades of research into alcoholism, just to make sure it was 100% right.”
In the movie Arthur, Brand plays the title character, a naive, immature, adult who’s sole goal in life is to have fun. Arthur achieves this goal by using his money to buy his every whim, drinking the worries of the real world away, and sleeping with as many random women as he can.
Arthur’s shenanigans get him into trouble one night when his arrest causes his mother important investments.
In an attempt to regain the investor’s trust in the company and it’s sole heir, Arthur’s mother concocts a plan in which Arthur marries Susan Johnson. Susan Johnson, played by Jenifer Gardner, is an overachieving abusive heiress, who is obsessed with running Arthur’s family company.
Unhappy with the impending marriage, Arthur searches for true love. However, once he has found what he has been looking for, he’s forced to realize that he can’t keep his money and the love of his life.
In the end, Arthur must choose between a lavish lifestyle or a life of possible joy without his inheritance.