On the way to see Russell Brand’s new movie “Arthur”, I thought to myself, “how could a movie with Russell Brand playing a drunken billionaire man-child and Helen Mirren playing his maternal nanny not be a hilarious, gut-busting film?”

But I was sadly mistaken. Instead of seeing a gloriously comedic film, I saw a mediocre attempt.

In “Arthur,” Brand plays Arthur Bach, an ever-inebriated man who spends his family’s fortune on the most frivolous things he finds in his playground of Manhattan.  He is looked after by his nanny Hobson, played by Mirren, who always has Arthur’s best interests at heart.

The film’s sole conflict is that his distant mother wants him to marry into a loveless relationship with snobby, uptight, and controlling Susan Johnson, played by Jennifer Garner, in order for Arthur to become a tame and functioning member of society. However, while Arthur is being pressured into the marriage, he is slowly falling for New York tour guide Naomi, played by Greta Gerwig.

The problem?  If Arthur chooses not to marry Susan, then he is cut off from his billions and forced to become a working member of society.

While the plot of the film was slightly comical with interspersed one-liners coming from Brand, the characters both made and broke the film.

Brand’s portrayal of Arthur was humorous enough for someone to enjoy the movie, but if it was anyone else playing Arthur, the movie would have completely fallen apart. Brand’s pronounced British accent, his wildly eccentric hair, and his stand-up comedy back ground allow for his character to be funny, but if a more typical star played Arthur, then the film would have fallen on its face.

Garner’s character, Susan, was one of the oddest ones I have ever watched. I’m not used to seeing Garner play a cut throat socialite while trying to be comedian at the same time. I also felt that Garner was too old to play this role with Brand as her immature counterpart.

After seeing “Arthur,” I came to two conclusions. Number one being that Russell Brand is hilarious, and number two being that he was the only funny part about “Arthur.” The movie will be playing for several more weeks, but I suggest you wait to put “Arthur” in your queue.

Maggie Cassidy is a Managing Editor for jcpatriot.com and “The Patriot.”