Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Arthur 2: On the Rocks
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Bud Yorkin
Produced by	Robert Shapiro Dudley Moore
Written by	Andy Breckman
Based on	Characters by Steve Gordon
Starring	Dudley Moore Liza Minnelli John Gielgud Geraldine Fitzgerald
Music by	Burt Bacharach
Cinematography	Stephen H. Burum
Editing by	Michael Kahn
Studio	Havlin--Shapiro Productions
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	July 8, 1988 (1988-07-08)
Running time	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$14,681,192

Arthur 2: On the Rocks is the 1988 sequel to the 1981 film Arthur. Lead actors Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli reprised their roles.

John Gielgud, who won an Academy Award for his role in the original film, reappears briefly in a drunken hallucination on Arthur's part.

The film co-stars Kathy Bates as a woman who helps the characters of Arthur and Linda adopt a baby. Stephen Elliott reprises his role from the first film, but his daughter, Jill Eikenberry originally, is now played by Cynthia Sikes.

Plot

Arthur Bach (Dudley Moore) is still rich and still drinks too much, but he and Linda (Liza Minnelli) are now happily married. The one thing missing in their life is a child. Seeking revenge, billionaire Bert Johnson (Stephen Elliott), the father of Susan Johnson (Cynthia Sikes), the wealthy woman whom Arthur jilted at the altar, takes control of Arthur's inheritance, leaving Arthur broke and homeless. Susan wants him back and is willing to break up Arthur's marriage if that's what it takes.

Arthur tries to sober up to rise up to the occasion and find a job, knowing his financial plight could ruin any chance he and Linda have of adopting a baby. Linda assures a representative from the adoption agency that, despite his drinking, Arthur would make a good father. Through an elaborate scheme, Arthur plots to get even with the Johnsons and get his money back. In the end, he not only is able to get his money back and adopt a child, but Linda discovers that she's pregnant.

Cast

• Dudley Moore as Arthur Bach
• Liza Minnelli as Linda Marolla Bach
• John Gielgud as Hobson
• Geraldine Fitzgerald as Martha Bach
• Kathy Bates as Mrs. Canby
• Paul Benedict as Fairchild
• Stephen Elliott as Bert Johnson
• Cynthia Sikes as Susan Johnson
• Jack Gifford as Mr. Butterworth
• Ron Canada as Bartender

Reception

On the Rocks received generally negative reviews from critics and holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 13%.^[1] The Washington Post opined that "the result is about as funny as the plight of an alcoholic." The film earned $14.7 million in American ticket sales, compared to the original film's $82 million.

Liza Minnelli earned the 1988 Golden Raspberry Award for "Worst Actress" of the year, by performing in Arthur 2 as well as Rent-a-Cop. The film was enough of a failure for Dudley Moore to disown it.^{[citation needed]} Over the years, however, the film has achieved cult film status and is viewed by many fans^[who?] as an adequate conclusion to the story.

References

External links

• Arthur 2: On the Rocks at the Internet Movie Database
• Arthur 2: On the Rocks at Rotten Tomatoes