Arthur

Arthur has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in the US on Kanopy, and in the UK on Now TV Cinema. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 476 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Dudley Moore leads a cast with real comic timing. Start it on Kanopy whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Arthur arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Arthur from the crowd. Arthur is a 30-year-old child who will inherit $750 million if he complies with his family's demands and marries the woman of their choosing. Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1981. The timing in Arthur is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Arthur respects your intelligence. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Dudley Moore's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.