Arthur 2: On the Rocks
Encyclopedia
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
.
) 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 adopt a child, but Linda discovers that she's pregnant.
rating of 13%. 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. Over the years, however, the film has achieved cult film
status and is viewed by many fans as an adequate conclusion to the story.
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the 1981 film Arthur. Lead actors Dudley Moore
Dudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
and Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
reprised their roles.
John Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
, 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
Kathy Bates
Kathleen Doyle "Kathy" Bates is an American actress and director.After several small roles in film and television, Bates rose to prominence with her performance in Misery , for which she won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe...
as a woman who helps the characters of Arthur and Linda adopt a baby. Stephen Elliott
Stephen Elliott (actor)
Stephen Elliott was an American actor. His best known role was that of crime boss, Burt Johnson, in the hit 1981 film Arthur.-Theatre:Elliott's first acting engagement was at the New York Neighborhood Playhouse in 1946...
reprises his role from the first film, but his daughter, Jill Eikenberry
Jill Eikenberry
Jill Eikenberry is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is best known for her role as lawyer Ann Kelsey in L.A. Law...
originally, is now played by Cynthia Sikes
Cynthia Sikes
Cynthia Sikes is an American actress known for her television roles. On JAG, she played the love interest of Adm. Albert Jethro 'A.J.' Chegwidden . Her breakthrough role was playing Dr. Annie Cavanero on the critically acclaimed series St. Elsewhere, which she appeared in for the first three...
.
Plot
Arthur Bach (Dudley MooreDudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
) is still rich and still drinks too much, but he and Linda (Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
) are now happily married. The one thing missing in their life is a child. Seeking revenge, billionaire Bert Johnson (Stephen Elliott
Stephen Elliott (actor)
Stephen Elliott was an American actor. His best known role was that of crime boss, Burt Johnson, in the hit 1981 film Arthur.-Theatre:Elliott's first acting engagement was at the New York Neighborhood Playhouse in 1946...
), the father of Susan Johnson (Cynthia Sikes
Cynthia Sikes
Cynthia Sikes is an American actress known for her television roles. On JAG, she played the love interest of Adm. Albert Jethro 'A.J.' Chegwidden . Her breakthrough role was playing Dr. Annie Cavanero on the critically acclaimed series St. Elsewhere, which she appeared in for the first three...
), 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 adopt a child, but Linda discovers that she's pregnant.
Cast
- Dudley MooreDudley MooreDudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
as Arthur - Liza MinnelliLiza MinnelliLiza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
as Linda - John GielgudJohn GielgudSir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
as Hobson - Geraldine FitzgeraldGeraldine FitzgeraldGeraldine Fitzgerald, Lady Lindsay-Hogg was an Irish-American actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
as Martha Bach - Kathy BatesKathy BatesKathleen Doyle "Kathy" Bates is an American actress and director.After several small roles in film and television, Bates rose to prominence with her performance in Misery , for which she won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe...
as Mrs. Canby - Paul BenedictPaul BenedictPaul Benedict was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and movies beginning in the 1960s...
as Fairchild - Stephen ElliottStephen Elliott (actor)Stephen Elliott was an American actor. His best known role was that of crime boss, Burt Johnson, in the hit 1981 film Arthur.-Theatre:Elliott's first acting engagement was at the New York Neighborhood Playhouse in 1946...
as Bert Johnson - Cynthia SikesCynthia SikesCynthia Sikes is an American actress known for her television roles. On JAG, she played the love interest of Adm. Albert Jethro 'A.J.' Chegwidden . Her breakthrough role was playing Dr. Annie Cavanero on the critically acclaimed series St. Elsewhere, which she appeared in for the first three...
as Susan Johnson - Jack Gifford as Mr. Butterworth
- Ron CanadaRon CanadaRon Canada is an American actor. He began as a television newscaster during the 1970s in the Baltimore-Washington area mainly on WBAL-TV Channel 11 in Baltimore, until the early 1980s when he became an actor. He was a tour guide at NBC studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza...
as Bartender
Reception
On the Rocks received generally negative reviews from critics and holds a Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
rating of 13%. 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
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
earned the 1988 Golden Raspberry Award
1988 Golden Raspberry Awards
The 9th Golden Raspberry Awards were held on March 29, 1989 at the Hollywood Palace to recognize the worst the movie industry had to offer in 1988...
for "Worst Actress" of the year, by performing in Arthur 2 as well as Rent-a-Cop
Rent-A-Cop
Rent-a-Cop is a 1987 action / comedy / crime film starring Burt Reynolds and Liza Minnelli. Reynolds plays a disgraced police officer, now working as a security guard, who falls in love with Minnelli, who plays a prostitute....
. The film was enough of a failure for Dudley Moore
Dudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
to disown it. Over the years, however, the film has achieved cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
status and is viewed by many fans as an adequate conclusion to the story.