Main Cast: Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Paul Benedict
Release Year: 1988
Country: US
Run Time: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
In this sequel to the 1981 hit comedy Arthur, the story picks up where it left off with the bibulous millionaire hero (Dudley Moore) marrying poverty-stricken Linda Marolla (Liza Minnelli) instead of going through with a prearranged wealthy marriage. The vengeful father (Stephen Elliott) of the justifiably jilted bride begins pulling a few crooked strings, and before long, Arthur is broke. Worse still, Linda is pregnant. Will Arthur crawl back into a bottle, or will he save the day? John Gielgud makes a cameo appearance as the ghost of the family-retainer character he played in the first Arthur, while Dudley Moore's real-life wife Brogan Lane shows up in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Kathy Bates - Mrs. Canby; Cynthia Sikes - Susan Johnson; Stephen Elliott - Burt Johnson; Barney Martin - Ralph Marolla; Jack Gilford - Mr. Butterworth, Super; Thomas Barbour - Stanford Bach; Mary Betten - Housekeeper Wife; Linda Borgeson - Diner Customer; Ron Canada - Bartender; Eagle-Eye Cherry - Teenager; Nick de Mauro - Building Superintendent; Darryl Edwards - Johnson Guard; Aileen Fitzpatrick - Saleswoman; Daniel Greene - Troy; Joe Jamrog - Doorman; Cameron Johann - Hardware Store Customer #2; Joseph Leon - Hank; Robert Levine - Cabdriver; Ken Magee - Hardware Store Customer #1; Molly McClure - Greta; Raymond O'Connor - Drunk #1; Joe Restivo - Seedy Bartender; Don Stark - Diner Customer; J. Christopher Sullivan - Diner Customer; Ken Sylk - Man in Shadows; John Vennema - Maitre D'; Terry Wills - Man in Alley; Jason Wingreen - Boardmember #2; Brogan Lane - Cindy; Ted Ross - Bitterman; Larry Golden - Bum; Frederikke Borge - Decorator; Carl Bressler - Diner Customer; John O'Neill - Housekeeper Husband; John A. Zee - Bald Executive; Dave O'Brien
Credit
Hub Braden - Art Director, Valorie Massalas - Casting, Mike Fenton - Casting, Jane Feinberg - Casting, Anna Hill Johnstone - Costume Designer, Bob Girolami - First Assistant Director, Bud Yorkin - Director, Michael Kahn - Editor, Dudley Moore - Executive Producer, Burt Bacharach - Songwriter, Brogan Lane - Makeup, Christina Smith - Makeup, Douglas Ryan - Camera Operator, Gene Callahan - Production Designer, Stephen H. Burum - Cinematographer, Robert Shapiro - Producer, P. Michael Johnston - Set Designer, Lee Poll - Set Designer, Steve Maslow - Sound/Sound Designer, Jim Tannenbaum - Sound/Sound Designer, Andy Breckman - Screenwriter, Stephen A. Hope - Music Editor
Billionaire Bert Johnson (Stephen Elliott), the father of Susan Johnson (Cynthia Sikes replacing Jill Eikenberry), the wealthy woman whom Arthur (Dudley Moore) jilted in the first film, takes control of Arthur's inheritance, and Arthur is soon broke and homeless. Arthur the drunk tries to sober up to rise up to the occasion and get a job in the process. Meanwhile, Arthur and his wife, Linda Marolla, (Liza Minnelli) are trying to adopt a baby. John Gielgud makes a cameo appearance as the ghost of Hobson, the valet character he played in the first movie, in a drunken hallucination on Arthur's part.
Reception
The film earned $14.7 million in American ticket sales, compared to the original film's $82 million. The Washington Post opined that "the result is about as funny as the plight of an alcoholic." 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.
