Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Arthur 2: On the Rocks is a 1988 American comedy film and the 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 vision to Arthur during a drunken stupor. The film costars Kathy Bates as a woman who helps Arthur and Linda adopt a baby. Almost the entire cast from the first film reprised their roles, except for Jill Eikenberry, who was busy filming L.A. Law at the time. Because of this, the character of Susan was played by Cynthia Sikes instead.

Arthur 2: On the Rocks
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBud Yorkin
Produced byRobert Shapiro
Dudley Moore
Written byAndy Breckman
Based onCharacters
by Steve Gordon
Starring
Music byBurt Bacharach
CinematographyStephen H. Burum
Edited byMichael Kahn
Production
company
Havlin-Shapiro Productions
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • July 8, 1988 (1988-07-08)
Running time
113 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$14.7 million

Burt Bacharach also returned to score the film. The soundtrack also features songs by popular artists, including OMD and Kylie Minogue. While still a comedy, On the Rocks is notably darker than its predecessor. The film received mixed to negative reviews and also was a financial disappointment when compared to the more successful original.

Plot

Roughly five years after the events of the first film, Arthur Bach (Dudley Moore) is married to Linda (Liza Minnelli). Arthur's new assistant is a friendly but uptight man named Fairchild (Paul Benedict), and while Arthur enjoys playing practical jokes on Fairchild, he still deeply misses Hobson. Arthur and Linda have a happy marriage, but it is not without its problems. Arthur is still an alcoholic, and Linda is told by a doctor that she cannot have children. The two decide to adopt a child instead from a woman named Mrs. Canby (Kathy Bates), however, Arthur's drinking is a cause for concern.

Shortly after this, Arthur is informed by his father that the family's company has undergone a business merger with Burt Johnson (Stephen Elliott), the vengeful billionaire father of Susan Johnson (Cynthia Sikes), Arthur's ex-fiancee. The Bach family will get to keep their wealth and way of life, but only if Arthur is cut off from his $750,000,000 fortune. Arthur confronts Burt about this, and Burt tells him that he can have his money back on one condition: divorce Linda and marry Susan. Arthur refuses, as he loves Linda more than his lavish lifestyle.

Now broke, Arthur and Linda move in with Linda's father, Ralph (Barney Martin) and Linda gets back her old job as a waitress. Things are going well at first, but Burt is determined to make Susan happy, so he buys the building they are living in and forces Arthur and Linda to leave. Now homeless, Arthur and Linda move into a squalid apartment and Arthur tries to sober up to find a job, knowing that bad finances could ruin any chance they have of adopting a baby. After the owner takes pity on him, Arthur finds work at a hardware store, but Burt buys the store and has Arthur fired.

Susan arrives at Arthur and Linda's apartment and tells Linda that if she really wants what's best for Arthur, then she should leave him. Susan also tells Linda that she can have children, and Linda cannot. Realizing that Arthur is suffering because he is unwilling to let her go, a devastated Linda moves back in with her father and leaves Arthur a note telling him that he should marry Susan and live a comfortable life. Crestfallen at having lost Linda and still unwilling to marry Susan, Arthur begins drinking again and ends up living on the streets. At his lowest point, Arthur sees a vision of Hobson (John Gielgud) and Hobson tells him that he cannot give up, because he knows Arthur will have a son, and Arthur must be there for him.

Determined to get even with the Johnsons, Arthur gets sober again and learns from his grandmother, Martha (Geraldine Fitzgerald), that Burt has made a lot of enemies that have dirt on him. Arthur meets with several people whose lives have been ruined by Burt Johnson, and learns of a fraud and extortion scheme that Burt was responsible for. Arthur sneaks onto Burt's yacht and confronts him, demanding that they leave him and Linda alone. Burt and his friends laugh at Arthur, freely admitting that the allegations are true, but the statute of limitations has expired and the evidence is worthless. Arthur punches Burt in the gut, and Burt attempts to kill Arthur with a revolver. However, realizing that money cannot get her everything, Susan defends Arthur for the first time and tells her father to give Arthur his money back or she will tell her mother about his affairs. Burt reluctantly agrees, and Arthur thanks Susan before leaving to get his life back in order.

Arthur seeks out Linda and tells her that he has not only gotten his money back but also secured the adoption of a child. Linda and Arthur reconcile and Mrs. Canby arrives with their adopted child, a baby girl. Arthur is confused because Hobson had told him he would have a son. However, Linda surprises Arthur with the news that she is pregnant, after all. The two return to their home and Fairchild plays a practical joke on Arthur for the first time. Arthur tells Fairchild to pack his things, and Fairchild, assuming he has been fired, does so. However, Arthur tells him that he is not fired, only moving rooms. He shows him to his new room, the room that used to belong to Hobson.

Cast

Reception

The film received generally negative reviews from critics and holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 13% based on 23 reviews.[1] 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 the film as well as Rent-a-Cop.

Box office

The film was not a box office success, and was overshadowed by the release of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. It earned $14.7 million in American ticket sales, compared to the original film's $95.5 million.[2]

References
  1. Arthur 2: On the Rocks at Rotten Tomatoes
  2. EASTON, NINA (1988). "Weekend Box Office results, July 1988". LA Times. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
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