film critic

Once, long ago, a film dealing with the advertures of an alcoholic millionaire was made. Th film was called “Arthur,” and it was a charming, funny little offering starring Dudley Moore (a funny little offering in his own right) and Liza Minelli.

This film was quite successful, which, considering its merit, is a good thing. but like many good things, it spawned a reprehensible offspring, in this case, a sequel entitled “Arthur II, On The Rocks.”

Actually, much of “Arthur II” is similar to its pedecessor. It has the same cast involved in comparable situations, but it is, all the same, a mediocre epilogue.

The film follows the ultra-affluent and ever-intoxicated Arthur (Moore) and his new blue-collar wife Linda(Minelli), as they lament the fact that she is incapable of bearing children. Just as they resolve this dilemma by deciding to adopt a baby, disaster strikes.

The calamity in this case takes the forms of Arthur’s spurned fiancee and her evil father, who manage to leave our hero suddenly penniless through the wonders of corporate finance.

Thus we, the audience, are subjected to a dreary excursion into the hilarity(?) of poverty. Needless to say, eventually total happiness ensues, but not before we see the fun of living in a shelter for the homeless and the delights of having to steal food to survive.

As he stumbles through shoddy one-liners and unfunny dialogue, we cringe for him, wanting to like this movie for his sake. Unfortunately, it’s too much to ask.

Moore is likeable in this film. While he may never be considered a gifted actor, he is undeniably a very charming performer.

Minelli portrays, well, Liza Minelli. This is a woman who has made a career out of playing herself. If you like her in “Cabaret,” you’ll like her in “Arthur II.” It’s rather comforting, really. Sort of like knowing that if you order a Big Mac in Hong Kong, it’s going to taste just the same as it does in Des Moines. The problem is there are few who could stomach a steady diet of styrofoam-cocooned cheeseburgers.

Perhaps the predictable qualities of the performers in “Arthur II” are indicative of the film itself. If you can’t figure out what’s about to happen from one scene to the next, you’re doing something else in that movie theatre. And who can blame you? My case, such as it is, rests.