Russell Brand branded a dud over 'Arthur' remake

Russell Brand has been branded a dud by critics for his remake of classic comedy Arthur.

The comedian recreated Dudley Moore's playboy role for the reworking of the 1981 flick alongside Dame Helen Mirren. But as the film premiered in New York on Tuesday night critics poured on the vitriol.

One said Brand was "just not that funny" and that Arthur "should put a nail in the coffin" of his film career.

"The guy's just not that funny. Particularly with that high, whiny, little-boy voice that he uses here," The Sun quoted one critic as writing on the Huffington Post website.

"It's a rough, out-of-focus performance," another said.

However, Brand declared: "I did two decades of research to make sure it was 100% right."