Brand finds laughs in nonsense slapstick

Posh, debonair substance abuser is not a role that stretches Russell Brand’s range; similarly, dour nanny is no reach for Helen Mirren.

But even when we roll our eyes as the cast in “Arthur” stoops to play worn-out stereotypes, the trajectory of the film justifies some, if not all, of the gimmickry.

Russell Brand’s take on Dudley Moore’s 1981 alcoholic playboy is fun to watch at a slapstick level. Brand is one of our finest physical comedians, and the film is a clever vehicle for him. But many of the relationships in the film don’t work. The types were assembled in order to drive the plot, with no thought as to whether they’d function on a human level. When we spend too much time with the people, it only serves to detract from the spectacle. When “Arthur” slows down to remind everyone it’s a film, it allows a level of scrutiny that makes everything fall apart.

So don’t think; just laugh. And if you’re moved by the sad parts, all the better.